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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24421-0.txt b/24421-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4bb5965 --- /dev/null +++ b/24421-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2064 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue And +Raven The Skald, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue And Raven The Skald + 1875 + +Author: Anonymous + +Translator: Eirikr Magnusson And William Morris + +Release Date: January 25, 2008 [EBook #24421] +Last Updated: October 8, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF GUNNLAUG *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE STORY OF GUNNLAUG THE WORM-TONGUE AND RAVEN THE SKALD. + +Translated From The Icelandic By Eirikr Magnusson And William Morris + +1875 + +[Transcriber’s Note: Thought to be written in the 13th Century] + +_EVEN AS ARI THORGILSON THE LEARNED, THE PRIEST, HATH TOLD IT, WHO WAS +THE MAN OF ALL ICELAND MOST LEARNED IN TALES OF THE LAND’S INHABITING +AND IN LORE OF TIME AGONE_. + + + + +CHAPTER I. Of Thorstein Egilson and his Kin. + +There was a man called Thorstein, the son of Egil, the son of +Skallagrim, the son of Kveldulf the Hersir of Norway. Asgerd was the +mother of Thorstein; she was the daughter of Biorn Hold. Thorstein dwelt +at Burg in Burg-firth; he was rich of fee, and a great chief, a wise +man, meek and of measure in all wise. He was nought of such wondrous +growth and strength as his father Egil had been; yet was he a right +mighty man, and much beloved of all folk. + +Thorstein was goodly to look on, flaxen-haired, and the best-eyed of +men; and so say men of lore that many of the kin of the Mere-men, who +are come of Egil, have been the goodliest folk; yet, for all that, this +kindred have differed much herein, for it is said that some of them have +been accounted the most ill-favoured of men: but in that kin have been +also many men of great prowess in many wise, such as Kiartan, the son of +Olaf Peacock, and Slaying-Bardi, and Skuli, the son of Thorstein. Some +have been great bards, too, in that kin, as Biorn, the champion of +Hit-dale, priest Einar Skulison, Snorri Sturluson, and many others. + +Now, Thorstein had to wife Jofrid, the daughter of Gunnar, the son of +Hlifar. This Gunnar was the best skilled in weapons, and the lithest of +limb of all bonderfolk who have been in Iceland; the second was Gunnar +of Lithend; but Steinthor of Ere was the third. Jofrid was eighteen +winters old when Thorstein wedded her; she was a widow, for Thorodd, +son of Odd of Tongue, had had her to wife aforetime. Their daughter was +Hungerd, who was brought up at Thorstein’s at Burg. Jofrid was a very +stirring woman; she and Thorstein had many children betwixt them, but +few of them come into this tale. Skuli was the eldest of their sons, +Kollsvein the second, Egil the third. + + + + +CHAPTER II. Of Thorsteins Dream. + +One summer, it is said, a ship came from over the main into Gufaros. +Bergfinn was he hight who was the master thereof, a Northman of kin, +rich in goods, and somewhat stricken in years, and a wise man he was +withal. + +Now, goodman Thorstein rode to the ship, as it was his wont mostly +to rule the market, and this he did now. The Eastmen got housed, but +Thorstein took the master to himself, for thither he prayed to go. +Bergfinn was of few words throughout the winter, but Thorstein treated +him well The Eastman had great joy of dreams. + +One day in spring-tide Thorstein asked Bergfinn if he would ride with +him up to Hawkfell, where at that time was the Thing-stead of the +Burg-firthers; for Thorstein had been told that the walls of his booth +had fallen in. The Eastman said he had good will to go, so that day they +rode, some three together, from home, and the house-carles of Thorstein +withal, till they came up under Hawkfell to a farmstead called Foxholes. +There dwelt a man of small wealth called Atli, who was Thorstein’s +tenant Thorstein bade him come and work with them, and bring with him +hoe and spade. This he did, and when they came to the tofts of the +booth, they set to work all of them, and did out the walls. + +The weather was hot with sunshine that day, and Thorstein and the +Eastman grew heavy; and when they had moved out the walls, those two sat +down within the tofts, and Thorstein slept, and fared ill in his sleep. +The Eastman sat beside him, and let him have his dream fully out, and +when he awoke he was much wearied. Then the Eastman asked him what he +had dreamt, as he had had such an ill time of it in his sleep. + +Thorstein said, “Nay, dreams betoken nought.” + +But as they rode homeward in the evening, the Eastman asked him again +what he had dreamt. + +Thorstein said, “If I tell thee the dream, then shalt thou unriddle it +to me, as it verily is.” + +The Eastman said he would risk it. + +Then Thorstein said: “This was my dream; for methought I was at home +at Burg, standing outside the men’s-door, and I looked up at the +house-roof, and on the ridge I saw a swan, goodly and fair, and I +thought it was mine own, and deemed it good beyond all things. Then I +saw a great eagle sweep down from the mountains, and fly thitherward and +alight beside the swan, and chuckle over her lovingly; and methouht +the swan seemed well content thereat; but I noted that the eagle was +black-eyed, and that on him were iron claws: valiant he seemed to me. + +“After this I thought I saw another fowl come flying from the south +quarter, and he, too, came hither to Burg, and sat down on the house +beside the swan, and would fain be fond with her. This also was a mighty +eagle. + +“But soon I thought that the eagle first-come ruffled up at the coming +of the other. Then they fought fiercely and long, and this I saw that +both bled, and such was the end of their play, that each tumbled either +way down from the house-roof, and there they lay both dead. + +“But the swan sat left alone, drooping much, and sad of semblance. + +“Then I saw a fowl fly from the west; that was a falcon, and he sat +beside the swan and made fondly towards her, and they flew away both +together into one and the same quarter, and therewith I awoke. + +“But a dream of no mark this is,” he says, “and will in all likelihood +betoken gales, that they shall meet in the air from those quarters +whence I deemed the fowl flew.” + +The Eastman spake: “I deem it nowise such,” saith he. + +Thorstein said, “Make of the dream, then, what seemeth likest to thee, +and let me hear.” + +Then said the Eastman: “These birds are like to be fetches of men: but +thy wife sickens now, and she will give birth to a woman-child fair and +lovely; and dearly thou wilt love her; but high-born men shall woo thy +daughter, coming from such quarters as the eagles seemed to fly from, +and shall love her with overweening love, and shall fight about her, +and both lose their lives thereby. And thereafter a third man, from the +quarter whence came the falcon, shall woo her, and to that man shall +she be wedded. Now, I have unravelled thy dream, and I think things will +befall as I have said.” + +Thorstein answered: “In evil and unfriendly wise is the dream +interpreted, nor do I deem thee fit for the work of unriddling dreams.” + +Then Eastman said, “Thou shalt find how it will come to pass.” + +But Thorstein estranged himself from the Eastman thenceforward, and he +left that summer, and now he is out of the tale. + + + + +CHAPTER III. Of the Birth and Fostering of Helga the Fair. + +This summer Thorstein got ready to ride to the Thing, and spake to +Jofrid his wife before he went from home. “So is it,” he says, “that +thou art with child now, but thy child shall be cast forth if thou bear +a woman; but nourished if it be a man.” + +Now, at this time when all the land was heathen, it was somewhat the +wont of such men as had little wealth, and were like to have many young +children on their hands, to have them cast forth, but an evil deed it +was always deemed to be. + +And now, when Thorstein had said this, Jofrid answers, “This is a word +all unlike thee, such a man as thou art, and surely to a wealthy man +like thee it will not seem good that this should be done.” + +Thorstein answered: “Thou knowest my mind, and that no good will hap if +my will be thwarted.” + +So he rode to the Thing; but while he was gone Jofrid gave birth to a +woman-child wondrous fair. The women would fain show her to the mother; +she said there was little need thereof, but had her shepherd Thorvard +called to her, and spake to him:-- + +“Thou shalt take my horse and saddle it, and bring this child west +to Herdholt, to Thorgerd, Egil’s daughter, and pray her to nourish it +secretly, so that Thorstein may not know thereof. For with such looks of +love do I behold this child, that surely I cannot bear to have it cast +forth. Here are three marks of silver, have them in reward of thy work; +but west there Thorgerd will get thee fare and food over the sea.” + +Then Thorvard did her bidding; he rode with the child to Herdholt, and +gave it into Thorgerd’s hands, and she had it nourished at a tenant’s of +hers who dwelt at Freedmans-stead up in Hvamfirth; but she got fare for +Thorvard north in Steingrims-firth, in Shell-creek, and gave him meet +outfit for his sea-faring: he went thence abroad, and is now out of the +story. + +Now when Thorstein came home from the Thing, Jofrid told him that the +child had been cast forth according to his word, but that the herdsman +had fled away and stolen her horse. Thorstein said she had done well, +and got himself another herdsman. So six winters passed, and this matter +was nowise wotted of. + +Now in those days Thorstein rode to Herdholt, being bidden there as +guest of his brother-in-law, Olaf Peacock, the son of Hoskuld, who was +then deemed to be the chief highest of worth among all men west there. +Good cheer was made Thorstein, as was like to be; and one day at the +feast it is said that Thorgerd sat in the high seat talking with her +brother Thorstein, while Olaf was talking to other men; but on the bench +right over against them sat three little maidens. Then said Thorgerd,-- + +“How dost thou, brother, like the look of these three little maidens +sitting straight before us?” + +“Right well,” he answers, “but one is by far the fairest; she has all +the goodliness of Olaf, but the whiteness and the countenance of us, the +Mere-men.” + +Thorgerd answered: “Surely this is true, brother, wherein thou sayest +that she has the fairness and countenance of us Mere-folk, but +the goodliness of Olaf Peacock she has not got, for she is not his +daughter.” + +“How can that be,” says Thorstein, “being thy daughter none the less?” + +She answered: “To say sooth, kinsman,” quoth she, “this fair maiden is +not my daughter, but thine.” + +And therewith she told him all as it had befallen, and prayed him to +forgive her and his own wife that trespass. + +Thorstein said: “I cannot blame you two for having done this; most +things will fall as they are fated, and well have ye covered over my +folly: so look I on this maiden that I deem it great good luck to have +so fair a child. But now, what is her name?” + +“Helga she is called,” says Thorgerd. + +“Helga the Fair,” says Thorstein. “But now shalt thou make her ready to +come home with me.” + +She did so, and Thorstein was led out with good gifts, and Helga rode +with him to his home, and was brought up there with much honour and +great love from father and mother and all her kin. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. Of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue and his Kin. + +Now at this time there dwelt at Gilsbank, up in White-water-side, Illugi +the Black, son of Hallkel, the son of Hrosskel. The mother of Illugi was +Thurid Dandle, daughter of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue. + +Illugi was the next greatest chief in Burg-firth after Thorstein +Egilson. He was a man of broad lands and hardy of mood, and wont to do +well to his friends; he had to wife Ingibiorg, the daughter of Asbiorn +Hordson, from Ornolfsdale; the mother of Ingibiorg was Thorgerd, the +daughter of Midfirth-Skeggi. The children of Illugi and Ingibiorg were +many, but few of them have to do with this story. Hermund was one of +their sons, and Gunnlaug another; both were hopeful men, and at this +time of ripe growth. + +It is told of Gunnlaug that he was quick of growth in his early youth, +big, and strong; his hair was light red, and very goodly of fashion; he +was dark-eyed, somewhat ugly-nosed, yet of lovesome countenance; thin +of flank he was, and broad of shoulder, and the best-wrought of men; his +whole mind was very masterful; eager was he from his youth up, and in +all wise unsparing and hardy; he was a great skald, but somewhat bitter +in his rhyming, and therefore was he called Gunnlaug Worm-tongue. + +Hermund was the best beloved of the two brothers, and had the mien of a +great man. + +When Gunnlaug was fifteen winters old he prayed his father for goods to +fare abroad withal, and said he had will to travel and see the manners +of other folk. Master Illugi was slow to take the matter up, and said he +was unlike to be deemed good in the out-lands “when I can scarcely shape +thee to my own liking at home.” + +On a morning but a very little afterwards it happened that Illugi came +out early, and saw that his storehouse was opened, and that some +sacks of wares, six of them, had been brought out into the road, and +therewithal too some pack-gear. Now, as he wondered at this, there came +up a man leading four horses, and who should it be but his son Gunnlaug. +Then said he:-- + +“I it was who brought out the sacks.” + +Illugi asked him why he had done so. He said that they should make his +faring goods. + +Illugi said: “In nowise shalt thou thwart my will, nor fare anywhere +sooner than I like!” and in again he swung the ware-sacks therewith. + +Then Gunnlaug rode thence and came in the evening down to Burg, and +goodman Thorstein asked him to bide there, and Gunnlaug was fain of +that proffer. He told Thorstein how things had gone betwixt him and his +father, and Thorstein offered to let him bide there as long as he liked, +and for some seasons Gunnlaug abode there, and learned law-craft of +Thorstein, and all men accounted well of him. + +Now Gunnlaug and Helga would be always at the chess-playing together, +and very soon each found favour with the other, as came to be proven +well enough afterwards: they were very nigh of an age. + +Helga was so fair, that men of lore say that she was the fairest woman +of Iceland, then or since; her hair was so plenteous and long that it +could cover her all over, and it was as fair as a band of gold; nor was +there any so good to choose as Helga the Fair in all Burgfirth, and far +and wide elsewhere. + +Now one day, as men sat in the hall at Burg, Gunnlaug spake to +Thorstein: “One thing in law there is which thou hast not taught me, and +that is how to woo me a wife.” + +Thorstein said, “That is but a small matter,” and therewith taught him +how to go about it. + +Then said Gunnlaug, “Now shalt thou try if I have understood all: I +shall take thee by the hand and make as if I were wooing thy daughter +Helga.” + +“I see no need of that,” says Thorstein. Gunnlaug, however, groped +then and there after his hand, and seizing it said, “Nay, grant me this +though.” + +“Do as thou wilt, then,” said Thorstein; “but be it known to all who +are hereby that this shall be as if it had been unspoken, nor shall any +guile follow herein.” + +Then Gunnlaug named for himself witnesses, and betrothed Helga to him, +and asked thereafter if it would stand good thus. Thorstein said that it +was well; and those who were present were mightily pleased at all this. + + + + +CHAPTER V. Of Raven and his Kin. + +There was a man called Onund, who dwelt in the south at Mossfell: he +was the wealthiest of men, and had a priesthood south there about the +nesses. He was married, and his wife was called Geirny. She was the +daughter of Gnup, son of Mold-Gnup, who settled at Grindwick, in the +south country. Their sons were Raven, and Thorarin, and Eindridi; they +were all hopeful men, but Raven was in all wise the first of them. He +was a big man and a strong, the sightliest of men and a good skald; +and when he was fully grown he fared between sundry lands, and was well +accounted of wherever he came. + +Thorod the Sage, the son of Eyvind, then dwelt at Hjalli, south in +Olfus, with Skapti his son, who was then the spokesman-at-law in +Iceland. The mother of Skapti was Ranveig, daughter of Gnup, the son of +Mold-Gnup; and Skapti and the sons of Onund were sisters’ sons. Between +these kinsmen was much friendship as well as kinship. + +At this time Thorfin, the son of Selthorir, dwelt at Red-Mel, and +had seven sons, who were all the hopefullest of men; and of them were +these--Thorgils, Eyjolf, and Thorir; and they were all the greatest men +out there. But these men who have now been named lived all at one and +the same time. + +Next to this befell those tidings, the best that ever have befallen here +in Iceland, that the whole land became Christian, and that all folk cast +off the old faith. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. How Helga was vowed to Gunnlaug, and of Gunnlaug’s +faring abroad. + +Gunnlaug Worm-Tongue was, as is aforesaid, whiles at Burg with +Thorstein, whiles with his father Illugi at Gilsbank, three winters +together, and was by now eighteen winters old; and father and son were +now much more of a mind. + +There was a man called Thorkel the Black; he was a house-carle of +Illugi, and near akin to him, and had been brought up in his house. To +him fell an heritage north at As, in Water-dale, and he prayed Gunnlaug +to go with him thither. This he did, and so they rode, the two together, +to As. There they got the fee; it was given up to them by those who had +the keeping of it, mostly because of Gunnlaug’s furtherance. + +But as they rode from the north they guested at Grimstongue, at a rich +bonder’s who dwelt there; but in the morning a herdsman took Gunnlaug’s +horse, and it had sweated much by then he got it back. Then Gunnlaug +smote the herdsman, and stunned him; but the bonder would in nowise bear +this, and claimed boot therefor. Gunnlaug offered to pay him one mark. +The bonder thought it too little. + +Then Gunnlaug sang,-- + + “Bade I the middling mighty + To have a mark of waves’ flame; + Giver of grey seas? glitter, + This gift shalt thou make shift with. + If the elf sun of the waters + From out of purse thou lettest, + O waster of the worm’s bedy + Awaits thee sorrow later.” + +So the peace was made as Gunnlaug bade, and in such wise the two rode +south. + +Now, a little while after, Gunnlaug asked his father a second time for +goods for going abroad. + +Illugi says, “Now shalt thou have thy will, for thou hast wrought +thyself into something better than thou wert.” So Illugi rode hastily +from home, and bought for Gunnlaug half a ship which lay in Gufaros, +from Audun Festargram--this Audun was he who would not flit abroad the +sons of Oswif the Wise, after the slaying of Kiartan Olafson, as is +told in the story of the Laxdalemen, which thing though betid later than +this.--And when Illugi came home, Gunnlaug thanked him well. + +Thorkel the Black betook himself to seafaring with Gunnlaug, and their +wares were brought to the ship; but Gunnlaug was at Burg while they made +her ready, and found more cheer in talk with Helga than in toiling with +chapmen. + +Now one day Thorstein asked Gunnlaug if he would ride to his horses with +him up to Long-water-dale. Gunnlaug said he would. So they ride both +together till they come to the mountain-dairies of Thorstein, called +Thorgils-stead. There were stud-horses of Thorstein, four of them +together, all red of hue. There was one horse very goodly, but little +tried: this horse Thorstein offered to give to Gunnlaug. He said he was +in no need of horses, as he was going away from the country; and so they +ride to other stud-horses. There was a grey horse with four mares, and +he was the best of horses in Burgfirth. This one, too, Thorstein offered +to give Gunnlaug, but he said, “I desire these in no wise more than the +others; but why dost thou not bid me what I will take?” + +“What is that?” said Thorstein. + +“Helga the Fair, thy daughter,” says Gunnlaug. + +“That rede is not to be settled so hastily,” said Thorstein; and +therewithal got on other talk. And now they ride homewards down along +Long-water. + +Then said Gunnlaug, “I must needs know what thou wilt answer me about +the wooing.” + +Thorstein answers: “I heed not thy vain talk,” says he. + +Gunnlaug says, “This is my whole mind, and no vain words.” + +Thorstein says, “Thou shouldst first know thine own will. Art thou not +bound to fare abroad? and yet thou makest as if thou wouldst go marry. +Neither art thou an even match for Helga while thou art so unsettled, +and therefore this cannot so much as be looked at.” + +Gunnlaug says, “Where lookest thou for a match for thy daughter, if +thou wilt not give her to the son of Illugi the Black; or who are they +throughout Burg-firth who are of more note than he?” + +Thorstein answered: “I will not play at men-mating,” says he, “but if +thou wert such a man as he is, thou wouldst not be turned away.” + +Gunnlaug said, “To whom wilt thou give thy daughter rather than to me?” + +Said Thorstein, “Hereabout are many good men to choose from. Thorfin of +Red-Mel hath seven sons, and all of them men of good manners.” + +Gunnlaug answers, “Neither Onund nor Thorfin are men as good as my +father. Nay, thou thyself clearly fallest short of him--or what hast +thou to set against his strife with Thorgrim the Priest, the son of +Kiallak, and his sons, at Thorsness Thing, where he carried all that was +in debate?” + +Thorstein answers, “I drave away Steinar, the son of Onund Sioni, which +was deemed somewhat of a deed.” + +Gunnlaug says, “Therein thou wast holpen by thy father Egil; and, to end +all, it is for few bonders to cast away my alliance.” + +Said Thorstein, “Carry thy cowing away to the fellows up yonder at the +mountains; for down here, on the Meres, it shall avail thee nought.” + +Now in the evening they come home; but next morning Gunnlaug rode up to +Gilsbank, and prayed his father to ride with him a-wooing out to Burg. + +Illugi answered, “Thou art an unsettled man, being bound for faring +abroad, but makest now as if thou wouldst busy thyself with wife-wooing; +and so much do I know, that this is not to Thorstein’s mind.” + +Gunnlaug answers, “I shall go abroad all the same, nor shall I be well +pleased but if thou further this.” + +So after this Illugi rode with eleven men from home down to Burg, +and Thorstein greeted him well. Early in the morning Illugi said to +Thorstein, “I would speak to thee.” + +“Let us go, then, to the top of the Burg, and talk together there,” says +Thorstein; and so they did, and Gunnlaug went with them. + +Then said Illugi, “My kinsman Gunnlaug tells me that he has begun a +talk with thee on his own behalf, praying that he might woo thy daughter +Helga; but now I would fain know what is like to come of this matter. +His kin is known to thee, and our possessions; from my hand shall be +spared neither land nor rule over men, if such things might perchance +further matters.” + +Thorstein said, “Herein alone Gunnlaug pleases me not, that I find him +an unsettled man; but if he were of a mind like thine, little would I +hang back.” + +Illugi said, “It will cut our friendship across if thou gainsayest me +and my son an equal match.” + +Thorstein answers, “For thy words and our friendship then, Helga shall +be vowed, but not betrothed, to Gunnlaug, and shall bide for him three +winters: but Gunnlaug shall go abroad and shape himself to the ways of +good men; but I shall be free from all these matters if he does not then +come back, or if his ways are not to my liking.” + +Thereat they parted; Illugi rode home, but Gunnlaug rode to his ship. +But when they had wind at will they sailed for the main, and made +the northern part of Norway, and sailed landward along Thrandheim to +Nidaros; there they rode in the harbour, and unshipped their goods. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. Of Gunnlaug in the East and the West. + +In those days Earl Eric, the son of Hakon, and his brother Svein, ruled +in Norway. Earl Eric abode as then at Hladir, which was left to him by +his father, and a mighty lord he was. Skuli, the son of Thorstein, was +with the earl at that time, and was one of his court, and well esteemed. + +Now they say that Gunnlaug and Audun Festargram, and seven of them +together, went up to Hladir to the earl. Gunnlaug was so clad that he +had on a grey kirtle and white long-hose; he had a boil on his foot by +the instep, and from this oozed blood and matter as he strode on. In +this guise he went before the earl with Audun and the rest of them, +and greeted him well. The earl knew Audun, and asked him tidings from +Iceland. Audun told him what there was toward. Then the earl asked +Gunnlaug who he was, and Gunnlaug told him his name and kin. Then +the earl said: “Skuli Thorstein’s son, what manner of man is this in +Iceland?” + +“Lord,” says he, “give him good welcome, for he is the son of the best +man in Iceland, Illugi the Black of Gilsbank, and my foster-brother +withal.” + +The earl asked, “What ails thy foot, Icelander?” + +“A boil, lord,” said he. + +“And yet thou wentest not halt?” + +Gunnlaug answers, “Why go halt while both legs are long alike?” + +Then said one of the earl’s men, called Thorir: “He swaggereth hugely, +this Icelander! It would not be amiss to try him a little.” + +Gunnlaug looked at him and sang:-- + + “A courtman there is + Full evil I wis, + A bad man and black, + Belief let him lack.” + +Then would Thorir seize an axe. The earl spake: “Let it be,” says he; +“to such things men should pay no heed. But now, Icelander, how old a +man art thou?” + +Gunnlaug answers: “I am eighteen winters old as now,” says he. + +Then says Earl Eric, “My spell is that thou shalt not live eighteen +winters more.” + +Gunnlaug said, somewhat under his breath: “Pray not against me, but for +thyself rather.” + +The earl asked thereat, “What didst thou say, Icelander?” + +Gunnlaug answers, “What I thought well befitting, that thou shouldst bid +no prayers against me, but pray well for thyself rather.” + +“What prayers, then?” says the earl. + +“That thou mightest not meet thy death after the manner of Earl Hakon, +thy father.” + +The earl turned red as blood, and bade them take the rascal in haste; +but Skuli stepped up to the earl, and said: “Do this for my words, lord, +and give this man peace, so that he depart at his swiftest.” + +The earl answered, “At his swiftest let him be off then, if he will have +peace, and never let him come again within mv realm.” + +Then Skuli went out with Gunnlaug down to the bridges, where there was +an England-bound ship ready to put out; therein Skuli got for Gunnlaug +a berth, as well as for Thorkel, his kinsman; but Gunnlaug gave his ship +into Audun’s ward, and so much of his goods as he did not take with him. + +Now sail Gunnlaug and his fellows into the English main, and come at +autumntide south to London Bridge, where they hauled ashore their ship. + +Now at that time King Ethelred, the son of Edgar, ruled over England, +and was a good lord; this winter he sat in London. But in those days +there was the same tongue in England as in Norway and Denmark; but the +tongues changed when William the Bastard won England, for thenceforward +French went current there, for he was of French kin. + +Gunnlaug went presently to the king, and greeted him well and worthily, +The king asked him from what land he came, and Gunnlaug told him all as +it was. “But,” said he, “I have come to meet thee, lord, for that I have +made a song on thee, and I would that it might please thee to hearken to +that song.” The king said it should be so, and Gunnlaug gave forth the +song well and proudly; and this is the burden thereof:-- + + “As God are all folk fearing + The free lord King of England, + Kin of all kings and all folk, + To Ethelred the head tow.” + +The king thanked him for the song, and gave him as song-reward a scarlet +cloak lined with the costliest of furs, and golden-broidered down to the +hem; and made him his man; and Gunnlaug was with him all the winter, and +was well accounted of. + +One day, in the morning early, Gunnlaug met three men in a certain +street, and Thororm was the name of their leader; he was big and strong, +and right evil to deal with. He said, “Northman, lend me some money.” + +Gunnlaug answered, “That were ill counselled to lend one’s money to +unknown men.” + +He said, “I will pay it thee back on a named day.” + +“Then shall it be risked,” says Gunnlaug; and he lent him the fee +withal. + +But some time afterwards Gunnlaug met the king, and told him of the +money-lending. The king answered, “Now hast thou thriven little, for +this is the greatest robber and reiver; deal with him in no wise, but I +will give thee money as much as thine was.” + +Gunnlaug said, “Then do we, your men, do after a sorry sort, if, +treading sackless folk under foot, we let such fellows as this deal us +out our lot. Nay, that shall never be.” + +Soon after he met Thororm and claimed the fee of him. He said he was not +going to pay it. + +Then sang Gunnlaug:-- + + “Evil counselled art thou, + Gold from us withholding; + The reddener of the edges, + Pricking on with tricking. + Wot ye what? they called me, + Worm-tongue, yet a youngling; + Nor for nought so hight I; + Now is time to show it!” + +“Now I will make an offer good in law,” says Gunnlaug; “that thou either +pay me my money, or else that thou go on holm with me in three nights’ +space.” + +Then laughed the viking, and said, “Before thee none have come to that, +to call me to holm, despite of all the ruin that many a man has had to +take at my hands. Well, I am ready to go.” + +Thereon they parted for that time. + +Gunnlaug told the king what had befallen; and he said, “Now, indeed, +have things taken a right hopeless turn; for this man’s eyes can dull +any weapon. But thou shalt follow my rede; here is a sword I will +give thee--with that thou shalt fight, but before the battle show him +another.” + +Gunnlaug thanked the king well therefor. + +Now when they were ready for the holm, Thororm asked what sort of a +sword it was that he had. Gunnlaug unsheathed it and showed him, but +had a loop round the handle of the king’s sword, and slipped it over +his hand; the bearserk looked on the sword, and said, “I fear not that +sword.” + +But now he dealt a blow on Gunnlaug with his sword, and cut off from him +nigh all his shield; Gunnlaug smote in turn with the king’s gift; the +bearserk stood shieldless before him, thinking he had the same weapon he +had shown him, but Gunnlaug smote him his deathblow then and there. + +The king thanked him for this work, and he got much fame therefor, both +in England and far and wide elsewhere. + +In the spring, when ships sailed from land to land, Gunnlaug prayed King +Ethelred for leave to sail somewhither; the king asks what he was about +then. Gunnlaug said, “I would fulfil what I have given my word to do,” + and sang this stave withal:-- + + “My ways must I be wending + Three kings’ walls to see yet, + And earls twain, as I promised + Erewhile to land-sharers. + Neither will I wend me + Back, the worms’-bed lacking, + By war-lord’s son, the wealth-free, + For work done gift well given.” + +“So be it, then, skald,” said the king, and withal he gave him a ring +that weighed six ounces; “but,” said he, “thou shalt give me thy word to +come back next autumn, for I will not let thee go altogether, because of +thy great prowess.” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. Of Gunnlaug in Ireland. + +Thereafter Gunnlaug sailed from England with chapmen north to Dublin. In +those days King Sigtrygg Silky-beard, son of King Olaf Kvaran and Queen +Kormlada, ruled over Ireland; and he had then borne sway but a little +while. Gunnlaug went before the king, and greeted him well and worthily. +The king received him as was meet. Then Gunnlaug said, “I have made a +song on thee, and I would fain have silence therefor.” + +The king answered, “No men have before now come forward with songs for +me, and surely will I hearken to thine.” Then Gunnlaug brought the song, +whereof this is the burden,-- + + “Swaru’s steed + Doth Sigtrygg feed.” + +And this is therein also:-- + + “Praise-worth I can + Well measure in man, + And kings, one by one-- + Lo here, Kvararis son! + Gruageth the king + Gift of gold ring? + I, singer, know + His wont to bestow. + Let the high king say, + Heard he or this day, + Song drapu-measure + Dearer a treasure?” + +The king thanked him for the song, and called his treasurer to him, and +said, “How shall the song be rewarded?” + +“What hast thou will to give, lord?” says he. + +“How will it be rewarded if I give him two ships for it?” said the king. + +Then said the treasurer, “This is too much, lord; other kings give in +regard of songs good keepsakes, fair swords, or golden rings.” + +So the king gave him his own raiment of new scarlet, a gold-embroidered +kirtle, and a cloak lined with choice furs, and a gold ring which +weighed a mark. Gunnlaug thanked him well. + +He dwelt a short time here, and then went thence to the Orkneys. + +Then was lord in Orkney, Earl Sigurd, the son of Hlodver; he was +friendly to Icelanders. Now Gunnlaug greeted the earl well, and said he +had a song to bring him. The earl said he would listen thereto, since he +was of such great kin in Iceland. + +Then Gunnlaug brought the song; it was a shorter lay, and well done. The +earl gave him for lay-reward a broad axe, all inlaid with silver, and +bade him abide with him. + +Gunnlaug thanked him both for his gift and his offer, but said he was +bound east for Sweden; and thereafter he went on board ship with chapmen +who sailed to Norway. + +In the autumn they came east to King’s Cliff, Thorkel, his kinsman, +being with him all the time. From King’s Cliff they got a guide up to +West Gothland, and came upon a cheaping-stead, called Skarir: there +ruled an earl called Sigurd, a man stricken in years. Gunnlaug went +before him, and told him he had made a song on him; the earl gave a +willing ear hereto, and Gunnlaug brought the song, which was a shorter +lay. + +The earl thanked him, and rewarded the song well, and bade him abide +there that winter. + +Earl Sigurd had a great Yule-feast in the winter, and on Yule-eve came +thither men sent from Earl Eric of Norway, twelve of them together, and +brought gifts to Earl Sigurd. The earl made them good cheer, and bade +them sit by Gunnlaug through the Yule-tide; and there was great mirth at +drinks. + +Now the Gothlanders said that no earl was greater or of more fame than +Earl Sigurd; but the Norwegians thought that Earl Eric was by far the +foremost of the two. Hereon would they bandy words, till they both took +Gunnlaug to be umpire in the matter. + +Then he sang this stave:-- + + “Tell ye, staves of spear-din, + How on sleek-side sea-horse + Oft this earl hath proven + Over-toppling billows; + But Eric, victory’s ash-tree, + Oft hath seen in east-seas + More of high blue billows + Before the bows a-roaring.” + +Both sides were content with his finding, but the Norwegians the best. +But after Yule-tide those messengers left with gifts of goodly things, +which Earl Sigurd sent to Earl Eric. + +Now they told Earl Eric of Gunnlaug’s finding: the earl thought that he +had shown upright dealing and friendship to him herein, and let out some +words, saying that Gunnlaug should have good peace throughout his land. +What the earl had said came thereafter to the ears of Gunnlaug. + +But now Earl Sigurd gave Gunnlaug a guide east to Tenthland, in Sweden, +as he had asked. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. Of the Quarrel between Gunnlaug and Raven before the Swedish King. + +In those days King Olaf the Swede, son of King Eric the Victorious, and +Sigrid the High-counselled, daughter of Skogul Tosti, ruled over Sweden. +He was a mighty king and renowned, and full fain of fame. + +Gunnlaug came to Upsala towards the time of the Thing of the Swedes in +spring-tide; and when he got to see the king, he greeted him. The +king took his greeting well, and asked who he was. He said he was an +Iceland-man. + +Then the king called out: “Raven,” says he, “what man is he in Iceland?” + +Then one stood up from the lower bench, a big man and a stalwart, and +stepped up before the king, and spake: “Lord,” says he, “he is of good +kin, and himself the most stalwart of men.” + +“Let him go, then, and sit beside thee,” said the king. + +Then Gunnlaug said, “I have a song to set forth before thee, king, and I +would fain have peace while thou hearkenest thereto.” + +“Go ye first, and sit ye down,” says the king, “for there is no leisure +now to sit listening to songs.” + +So they did as he bade them. + +Now Gunnlaug and Raven fell a-talking together, and each told each of +his travels. Raven said that he had gone the summer before from Iceland +to Norway, and had come east to Sweden in the forepart of winter. They +soon got friendly together. + +But one day, when the Thing was over, they were both before the king, +Gunnlaug and Raven. + +Then spake Gunnlaug, “Now, lord, I would that thou shouldst hear the +song.” + +“That I may do now,” said the king. + +“My song too will I set forth now,” says Raven. + +“Thou mayst do so,” said the king. + +Then Gunnlaug said, “I will set forth mine first if thou wilt have it +so, king.” + +“Nay,” said Raven, “it behoveth me to be first, lord, for I myself came +first to thee.” + +“Whereto came our fathers forth, so that my father was the little boat +towed behind? Whereto, but nowhere?” says Gunnlaug. “And in likewise +shall it be with us.” + +Raven answered, “Let us be courteous enough not to make this a matter of +bandying of words. Let the king rule here.” + +The king said, “Let Gunnlaug set forth his song first, for he will not +be at peace till he has his will.” + +Then Gunnlaug set forth the song which he had made to King Olaf, and +when it was at an end the king spake. “Raven,” says he, “how is the song +done?” + +“Right well,” he answered; “it is a song full of big words and little +beauty; a somewhat rugged song, as is Gunnlaug’s own mood.” + +“Well, Raven, thy song,” said the king. + +Raven gave it forth, and when it was done the king said, “How is this +song made, Gunnlaug?” + +“Well it is, lord,” he said; “this is a pretty song, as is Raven himself +to behold, and delicate of countenance. But why didst thou make a short +song on the king, Raven? Didst thou perchance deem him unworthy of a +long one?” + +Raven answered, “Let us not talk longer on this; matters will be taken +up again, though it be later.” + +And thereat, they parted. + +Soon after Raven became a man of King Olaf’s, and asked him leave to +go away. This the king granted him. And when Raven was ready to go, he +spake to Gunnlaug, and said, “Now shall our friendship be ended, for +that thou must needs shame me here before great men; but in time to come +I shall cast on thee no less shame than thou hadst will to cast on me +here.” + +Gunnlaug answers: “Thy threats grieve me nought. Nowhere are we likely +to come where I shall be thought less worthy than thou.” + +King Olaf gave to Raven good gifts at parting, and thereafter. + + + + +CHAPTER X. How Raven came home to Iceland, and asked for Helga to Wife. + +Now this spring Raven came from the east to Thrandheim, and fitted out +his ship, and sailed in the summer to Iceland. He brought his ship to +Leiruvag, below the Heath, and his friends and kinsmen were right fain +of him. That winter he was at home with his father, but the summer after +he met at the Althing his kinsman, Skapti the law-man. + +Then said Raven to him, “Thine aid would I have to go a-wooing to +Thorstein Egilson, to bid Helga his daughter.” + +Skapti answered, “But is she not already vowed to Gunnlaug Worm-tongue?” + +Said Raven, “Is not the appointed time of waiting between them passed +by? And far too wanton is he withal, that he should hold or heed it +aught.” + +“Let us then do as thou wouldst,” said Skapti. + +Thereafter they went with many men to the booth of Thorstein Egilson, +and he greeted them well. + +Then Skapti spoke: “Raven, my kinsman, is minded to woo thy daughter +Helga. Thou knowest well his blood, his wealth, and his good manners, +his many mighty kinsmen and friends.” + +Thorstein said, “She is already the vowed maiden of Gunnlaug, and with +him shall I hold all words spoken.” + +Skapti said, “Are not the three winters worn now that were named between +you?” + +“Yes,” said Thorstein; “but the summer is not yet worn, and he may still +come out this summer.” + +Then Skapti said, “But if he cometh not this summer, what hope may we +have of the matter then?” + +Thorstein answered, “We are like to come here next summer, and then +may we see what may wisely be done, but it will not do to speak hereof +longer as at this time.” + +Thereon they parted. And men rode home from the Althing. But this talk +of Raven’s wooing of Helga was nought hidden. + +That summer Gunnlaug came not out. + +The next summer, at the Althing, Skapti and his folk pushed the wooing +eagerly, and said that Thorstein was free as to all matters with +Gunnlaug. + +Thorstein answered, “I have few daughters to see to, and fain am I that +they should not be the cause of strife to any man. Now I will first see +Illugi the Black.” And so he did. . + +And when they met, he said to Illugi, “Dost thou not think that I am +free from all troth with thy son Gunnlaug?” + +Illugi said, “Surely, if thou wiliest it. Little can I say herein, as I +do not know clearly what Gunnlaug is about.” + +Then Thorstein went to Skapti, and a bargain was struck that the wedding +should be at Burg, about winter-nights, if Gunnlaug did not come out +that summer; but that Thorstein should be free from all troth with Raven +if Gunnlaug should come and fetch his bride. + +After this men ride home from the Thing, and Gunnlaug’s coming was long +drawn out. But Helga thought evilly of all these redes. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. Of how Gunnlaug must needs abide away from Iceland. + +Now it is to be told of Gunnlaug that he went from Sweden the same +summer that Raven went to Iceland, and good gifts he had from King Olaf +at parting. + +King Ethelred welcomed Gunnlaug worthily, and that winter he was with +the king, and was held in great honour. + +In those days Knut the Great, son of Svein, ruled Denmark, and had +new-taken his father’s heritage, and he vowed ever to wage war on +England, for that his father had won a great realm there before he died +west in that same land. + +And at that time there was a great army of Danish men west there, whose +chief was Heming, the son of Earl Strut-Harald, and brother to Earl +Sigvaldi, and he held for King Knut that land that Svein had won. + +Now in the spring Gunnlaug asked the king for leave to go away, but he +said, “It ill beseems that thou, my man, shouldst go away now, when all +bodes such mighty war in the land.” + +Gunnlaug said, “Thou shalt rule, lord; but give me leave next summer to +depart, if the Danes come not.” + +The king answered, “Then we shall see.” + +Now this summer went by, and the next winter, but no Danes came; and +after midsummer Gunnlaug got his leave to depart from the king, and went +thence east to Norway, and found Earl Eric in Thrandheim, at Hladir, and +the earl greeted him well, and bade him abide with him. Gunnlaug thanked +him for his offer, but said he would first go out to Iceland, to look to +his promised maiden. + +The earl said, “Now all ships bound for Iceland have sailed.” + +Then said one of the court, “Here lay, yesterday, Hallfred +Troublous-Skald, out tinder Agdaness.” + +The earl answered, “That may well be; he sailed hence five nights ago.” + +Then Earl Eric had Gunnlaug rowed put to Hallfred, who greeted him with +joy; and forthwith a fair wind bore them from land, and they were right +merry. + +This was late in the summer: but now Hallfred said to Gunnlaug, “Hast +thou heard of how Raven, the son of Onund, is wooing Helga the Fair?” + +Gunnlaug said he had heard thereof but dimly. Hallfred tells him all he +knew of it, and therewith, too, that it was the talk of many men that +Raven was in nowise less brave a man than Gunnlaug. Then Gunnlaug sang +this stave:-- + + “Light the weather wafteth; + But if this east wind drifted + Week-long, wild upon us + Little were I recking; + More this word I mind of + Me with Raven mated, + Than gain for me the gold-foe + Of days to make me grey-haired.” + +Then Hallfred said, “Well, fellow, may’st thou fare better in thy strife +with Raven than I did in mine. I brought my ship some winters ago into +Leiruvag, and had to pay a half-mark in silver to a house-carle of +Raven’s, but I held it back from him. So Raven rode at us with sixty +men, and cut the moorings of the ship, and she was driven up on the +shallows, and we were bound for a wreck. Then I had to give selfdoom +to Raven, and a whole mark I had to pay; and that is the tale of my +dealings with him.” + +Then they two talked together alone of Helga the Fair, and Gunnlaug +praised her much for her goodliness; and Gunnlaug sang:-- + + “He who brand of battle + Beareth over-wary, + Never love shall let him + Hold the linen-folded; + For we when we were younger + In many a way were playing + On the outward nesses + From golden land outstanding.” + +“Well sung!” said Hallfred. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. Of Gunnlaug’s landing, and how he found Helga wedded to Raven. + +They made land north by Fox-Plain, in Hraunhaven, half a month before +winter, and there unshipped their goods. Now there was a man called +Thord, a bonder’s son of the Plain, there. He fell to wrestling with the +chapmen, and they mostly got worsted at his hands. + +Then a wrestling was settled between him and Gunnlaug. The night before +Thord made vows to Thor for the victory; but the next day, when they +met, they fell-to wrestling. Then Gunnlaug tripped both feet from under +Thord, and gave him a. great fall; but the foot that Gunnlaug stood on +was put out of joint, and Gunnlaug fell together with Thord. + +Then said Thord, “Maybe that other things go no better for thee.” + +“What then?” says Gunnlaug. + +“Thy dealings with Raven, if he wed Helga the Fair at winter-nights. I +was anigh at the Thing when that was settled last summer.” + +Gunnlaug answered naught thereto. + +Now the foot was swathed, and put into joint again, and it swelled +mightily; but he and Hallfred ride twelve in company till they come to +Gilsbank, in Burg-firth, the very Saturday night when folk sat at the +wedding at Burg. Illugi was fain of his son Gunnlaug and his fellows; +but Gunnlaug said he would ride then and there down to Burg. Illugi said +it was not wise to do so, and to all but Gunnlaug that seemed good. But +Gunnlaug was then unfit to walk, because of his foot, though he would +not let that be seen. Therefore there was no faring to Burg. + +On the morrow Hallfred rode to Hreda-water, in North-water dale, where +Galti, his brother and a brisk man, managed their matters. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. Of the Winter-Wedding at Skaney, and how Gunnlaug +gave the Kings Cloak to Helga. + +Tells the tale of Raven, that he sat at his weddings-feast at Burg, and +it was the talk of most men that the bride was but drooping; for true is +the saw that saith, “Long we remember what youth gained us,” and even so +it was with her now. + +But this new thing befell at the feast, that Hungerd, the daughter +of Thorod and Jofrid, was wooed by a man named Sverting, the son of +Hafr-Biorn, the son of Mold-Gnup, and the wedding was to come off that +winter after Yule, at Skaney, where dwelt Thorkel, a kinsman of Hungerd, +and son of Torn Valbrandsson; and the mother of Torn was Thorodda, the +sister of Odd of the Tongue. + +Now Raven went home to Mossfell with Helga his wife. When they had been +there a little while, one morning early before they rose up, Helga was +awake, but Raven slept, and fared ill in his sleep. And when he woke +Helga asked him what he had dreamt. Then Raven sang:-- + + “In thine arms, so dreamed I, + Hewn was I, gold island! + Bride, in blood I bled there, + Bed of thine was reddened. + Never more then mightst thou, + Mead-bowl’spourer speedy, + Bind my gashes bloody-- + Lind-leek-bough thou likst it.” + +Helga spake: “Never shall I weep therefor,” quoth she; “ye have evilly +beguiled me, and Gunnlaug has surely come out.” And therewith she wept +much. + +But, a little after, Gunnlaug’s coming was bruited about, and Helga +became so hard with Raven, that he could not keep her at home at +Mossfell; so that back they had to go to Burg, and Raven got small share +of her company. + +Now men get ready for the winter-wedding. Thorkel of Skaney bade Illugi +the Black and his sons. But when master Illugi got ready, Gunnlaug sat +in the hall, and stirred not to go. Illugi went up to him and said, “Why +dost thou not get ready, kinsman?” + +Gunnlaug answered, “I have no mind to go.” + +Says Illugi, “Nay, but certes thou shalt go, kinsman,” says he; “and +cast thou not grief over thee by yearning for one woman. Make as if thou +knewest nought of it, for women thou wilt never lack.” + +Now Gunnlaug did as his father bade him; so they came to the wedding, +and Illugi and his sons were set down in the high seat; but Thorstein +Egilson, and Raven his son-in-law, and the bridegroom’s following, were +set in the other high seat, over against Illugi. + +The women sat on the dais, and Helga the Fair sat next to the bride. +Oft she turned her eyes on Gunnlaug, thereby proving the saw, “Eyes will +bewray if maid love man.” + +Gunnlaug was well arrayed, and had on him that goodly raiment that King +Sigtrygg had given him; and now he was thought far above all other men, +because of many things, both strength, and goodliness, and growth. + +There was little mirth among folk at this wedding. But on the day when +all men were making ready to go away the women stood up and got ready +to go home. Then went Gunnlaug to talk to Helga, and long they talked +together: but Gunnlaug sang:-- + + “Light-heart lived the Worm-tongue + All day long no longer + In mountain-home, since Helga + Had name of wife of Raven; + Nought foresaw thy father, + Hardener white of fight-thaw, + What my words should come to. + --The maid to gold was wedded.” + +And again he sang:-- + + “Worst reward I owe them, + Father thine, O wine-may, + And mother, that they made thee + So fair beneath thy maid-gear; + For thou, sweet field of sea-flame, + All joy hast slain within me.-- + Lo, here, take it, loveliest + E’er made of lord and lady!” + +And therewith Gunnlaug gave Helga the cloak, Ethelred’s-gift, which was +the fairest of things, and she thanked him well for the gift. + +Then Gunnlaug went out, and by that time riding-horses had been brought +home and saddled, and among them were many very good ones; and they +were all tied up in the road. Gunnlaug leaps on to a horse, and rides +a hand-gallop along the homefield up to a place where Raven happened +to stand just before him; and Raven had to draw out of his way. Then +Gunnlaug said,-- + +“No need to slink aback, Raven, for I threaten thee nought as at this +time; but thou knowest forsooth, what thou hast earned.”. + +Raven answered and sang,-- + + “God of wound-flamed glitter, + Glorier of fight-goddess, + Must we fall a-fighting + For fairest kirtle-bearer? + Death-staffs many such-like + Fair as she is are there + In south-lands o’er the sea floods. + Sooth saith he who knoweth.” + +“Maybe there are many such, but they do not seem so to me,” said +Gunnlaug. + +Therewith Illugi and Thorstein ran up to them, and would not have them +fight. + +Then Gunnlaug sang,-- + + “The fair-hued golden goddess + For gold to Raven sold they, + (Raven my match as men say) + While the mighty isle-king, + Ethelred, in England + From eastward way delayed me, + Wherefore to gold-waster + Waneth tongue’s speech-hunger.” + +Hereafter both rode home, and all was quiet and tidingless that winter +through; but Raven had nought of Helga’s fellowship after her meeting +with Gunnlaug. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. Of the Holmgang at the Althing. + +Now in summer men ride a very many to the Althing: Illugi the Blacky and +his sons with him, Gunnlaug and Hermund; Thorstein Egilson and +Kolsvein his son; Onund, of Mossfell, and his sons all, and Sverting, +Hafr-Biorn’s son. Skapti yet held the spokesmanship-at-law. + +One day at the Thing, as men went thronging to the Hill of Laws, and +when the matters of the law were done there, then Gunnlaug craved +silence, and said:-- + +“Is Raven, the son of Onund, here?” + +He said he was. + +Then spake Gunnlaug, “Thou well knowest that thou hast got to wife my +avowed bride, and thus hast thou made thyself my foe. Now for this I bid +thee to holm here at the Thing, in the holm of the Axe-water, when three +nights are gone by.” + +Raven answers, “This is well bidden, as was to be looked for of thee, +and for this I am ready, whenever thou wiliest it.” + +Now the kin of each deemed this a very ill thing. But, at that time it +was lawful for him who thought himself wronged by another to call him to +fight on the holm. + +So when three nights had gone by they got ready for the holmgang, and +Illugi the Black followed his son thither with a great following. But +Skapti, the lawman, followed Raven, and his father and other kinsmen of +his. + +Now before Gunnlaug went upon the holm he sang,-- + + “Out to isle ofeel-field + Dight am I to hie me: + Give, O God, thy singer + With glaive to end the striving. + Here shall I the head cleave + Of Helga’s love’s devourer, + At last my bright sword bringeth + Sundering of head and body.” + +Then Raven answered and sang,-- + + “Thou, singer, knowest not surely + Which of us twain shall gain it; + With edge for leg-swathe eager, + Here are the wound-scythes bare now. + In whatso-wise we wound us, + The tidings from the Thing here, + And fame of thanes’ fair doings, + The fair young maid shall hear it.” + +Hermund held shield for his brother, Gunnlaug; but Sverting, +Hafr-Biorn’s son, was Raven’s shield-bearer. Whoso should be wounded was +to ransom himself from the holm with three marks of silver. + +Now, Raven’s part it was to deal the first blow, as he was the +challenged man. He hewed at the upper part of Gunnlaug’s shield, and the +sword brake asunder just beneath the hilt, with so great might he smote; +but the point of the sword flew up from the shield and struck Gunnlaug’s +cheek, whereby he got just grazed; with that their fathers ran in +between them, and many other men. + +“Now,” said Gunnlaug, “I call Raven overcome, as he is weaponless.” + +“But I say that thou art vanquished, since thou art wounded,” said +Raven. + +Now, Gunnlaug was nigh mad, and very wrathful, and said it was not tried +out yet. + +Illugi, his father, said they should try no more for that time. + +Gunnlaug said, “Beyond all things I desire that I might in such wise +meet Raven again, that thou, father, wert not anigh to part us.” + +And thereat they parted for that time, and all men went back to their +booths. + +But on the second day after this it was made law in the law-court that, +henceforth, all holmgangs should be forbidden; and this was done by the +counsel of all the wisest men that were at the Thing; and there, indeed, +were all the men of most counsel in all the land. And this was the last +holmgang fought in Iceland, this, wherein Gunnlaug and Raven fought. + +But this Thing was the third most thronged Thing that has been held +in Iceland; the first was after Njal’s burning, the second after the +Heath-slaughters. + +Now, one morning, as the brothers Hermund and Gunnlaug went to Axe-water +to wash, on the other side went many women towards the river, and in +that company was Helga the Fair. Then said Hermund,-- + +“Dost thou see thy friend Helga there on the other side of the river?” + +“Surely, I see her,” says Gunnlaug, and withal he sang:-- + + “Born was she for men’s bickering: + Sore bale hath wrought the war-stemy + And I yearned ever madly + To hold that oak-tree golden. + To me then, me destroyer + Of swan-mead’s flame, unneedful + This looking on the dark-eyed, + This golden land’s beholding.” + +Therewith they crossed the river, and Helga and Gunnlaug spake awhile +together, and as the brothers crossed the river eastward back again, +Helga stood and gazed long after Gunnlaug. + +Then Gunnlaug looked back and sang:-- + + “Moon of linen-lapped one, + Leek-sea-bearing goddess, + Hawk-keen out of heaven + Shone all bright upon me; + But that eyelid’s moonbeam + Of gold-necklaced goddess + Her hath all undoing + Wrought, and me made nought of.” + + + + +CHAPTER XV. How Gunnlaug and Raven agreed to go East to Norway, +to try the matter again. + +Now after these things were gone by men rode home from the Thing, and +Gunnlaug dwelt at home at Gilsbank. + +On a morning when he awoke all men had risen up, but he alone still lay +abed; he lay in a shut-bed behind the seats. Now into the hall came +twelve men, all full armed, and who should be there but Raven, Onund’s +son; Gunnlaug sprang up forthwith, and got to his weapons. + +But Raven spake, “Thou art in risk of no hurt this time,” quoth he, “but +my errand hither is what thou shalt now hear: Thou didst call me to a +holmgang last summer at the Althing, and thou didst not deem matters to +be fairly tried therein; now I will offer thee this, that we both fare +away from Iceland, and go abroad next summer, and go on holm in Norway, +for there our kinsmen are not like to stand in our way.” + +Gunnlaug answered, “Hail to thy words, stoutest of men! this thine offer +I take gladly; and here, Raven, mayest thou have cheer as good as thou +mayest desire.” + +“It is well offered,” said Raven, “but this time we shall first have to +ride away.” Thereon they parted. + +Now the kinsmen of both sore misliked them of this, but could in no wise +undo it, because of the wrath of Gunnlaug and Raven; and, after all, +that must betide that drew towards. + +Now it is to be said of Raven that he fitted out his ship in Leiruvag; +two men are named that went with him, sisters’ sons of his father Onund, +one hight Grim, the other Olaf, doughty men both. All the kinsmen of +Raven thought it great scathe when he went away, but he said he had +challenged Gunnlaug to the holmgang because he could have no joy soever +of Helga; and he said, withal, that one must fall before the other. + +So Raven put to sea, when he had wind at will, and brought his ship to +Thrandheim, and was there that winter and heard nought of Gunnlaug that +winter through; there lie abode him the summer following: and still +another winter was he in Thrandheim, at a place called Lifangr. + +Gunnlaug Worm-tongue took ship with Hallfred Troublous-Skald, in the +north at The Plain; they were very late ready for sea. + +They sailed into the main when they had a fair wind, and made Orkney a +little before the winter. Earl Sigurd Lodverson was still lord over the +isles, and Gunnlaug went to him and abode there that winter, and the +earl held him of much account. + +In the spring the earl would go on warfare, and Gunnlaug made ready to +go with him; and that summer they harried wide about the South-isles +and Scotland’s firths, and had many fights, and Gunnlaug always showed +himself the bravest and doughtiest of fellows, and the hardiest of men +wherever they came. + +Earl Sigurd went back home early in the summer, but Gurmlaug took ship +with chapmen, sailing for Norway, and he and Earl Sigurd parted in great +friendship. + +Gunnlaug fared north to Thrandheim, to Hladir, to see Earl Eric, and +dwelt there through the early winter; the earl welcomed him gladly, and +made offer to Gunnlaug to stay with him, and Gunnlaug agreed thereto. + +The earl had heard already how all had befallen between Gunnlaug and +Raven, and he told Gunnlaug that he laid ban on their fighting within +his realm; Gunnlaug said the earl should be free to have his will +herein. + +So Gunnlaug abode there the winter through, ever heavy of mood. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. How the two Foes met and fought at Dingness. + +But on a day in spring Gunnlaug was walking abroad, and his kinsman +Thorkel with him; they walked away from the town, till on the meads. +before them they saw a ring of men, and in that ring were two men with +weapons fencing; but one was named Raven, the other Gunnlaug, while they +who stood by said that Icelanders smote light, and were slow to remember +their words. + +Gunnlaug saw the great mocking hereunder, and much jeering was brought +into the play; and withal he went away silent. + +So a little while after he said to the earl that he had no mind to bear +any longer the jeers and mocks of his courtiers about his dealings with +Raven, and therewith he prayed the earl to give him a guide to Lifangr: +now before this the earl had been told that Raven had left Lifangr and +gone east to Sweden; therefore, he granted Gunnlaug leave to go, and +gave him two guides for the journey. + +Now Gunnlaug went from Hladir with six men to Lifangr; and, on the +morning of the very day whereas Gunnlaug came in in the evening, Raven +had left Lifangr with four men. Thence Gunnlaug went to Vera-dale, and +came always in the evening to where Raven had been the night before. + +So Gunnlaug went on till he came to the uppermost farm in the valley, +called Sula, wherefrom had Raven fared in the morning; there he stayed +not his journey, but kept on his way through the night. + +Then in the morning at sun-rise they saw one another. Raven had got to +a place where were two waters, and between them flat meads, and they +are called Gleipni’s meads: but into one water stretched a little ness +called Dingness. There on the ness Raven and his fellows, five together, +took their stand. With Raven were his kinsmen, Grim and Olaf. + +Now when they met, Gunnlaug said, “It is well that we have found one +another.” + +Raven said that he had nought to quarrel with therein; + +“But now,” says he, “thou mayest choose as thou wilt, either that we +fight alone together, or that we fight all of us man to man.” + +Gunnlaug said that either way seemed good to him. + +Then spake Raven’s kinsmen, Grim and Olaf, and said that they would +little like to stand by and look on the fight, and in like wise spake +Thorkel the Black, the kinsman of Gunnlaug. + +Then said Gunnlaug to the earl’s guides, “Ye shall sit by and aid +neither side, and be here to tell of our meeting;” and so they did. + +So they set on, and fought dauntlessly, all of them. Grim and Olaf went +both against Gunnlaug alone, and so closed their dealings with him that +Gunnlaug slew them both and got no wound. This proves Thord Kolbeinson +in a song that he made on Gunnlaug the Wormtongue:-- + + “Grim and Olaf great-hearts + In Gondul’s din, with thin sword + First did Gunnlaug fell there + Ere at Raven fared he; + Bold, with blood be-drifted + Bane of three the thane was; + War-lord of the wave-horse + Wrought for men folks’ slaughter.” + +Meanwhile Raven and Thorkel the Black, Gunnlaug’s kinsman, fought until +Thorkel fell before Raven and lost his life; and so at last all their +fellowship fell. Then they two alone fought together with fierce +onsets and mighty strokes, which they dealt each the other, falling on +furiously without stop or stay. + +Gunnlaug had the sword Ethelred’s-gift, and that was the best of +weapons. At last Gunnlaug dealt a mighty blow at Raven, and cut his leg +from under him; but none the more did Raven fall, but swung round up to +a tree-stem, whereat he steadied the stump. + +Then said Gunnlaug, “Now thou art no more meet for battle, nor will I +fight with thee any longer, a maimed man.” + +Raven answered: “So it is,” said he, “that my lot is now all the worser +lot, but it were well with me yet, might I but drink somewhat.” + +Gunnlaug said, “Bewray me not if I bring thee water in my helm.” + +“I will not bewray thee,” said Raven. Then went Gunnlaug to a brook and +fetched water in his helm, and brought it to Raven; but Raven stretched +forth his left hand to take it, but with his right hand drave his sword +into Gunnlaug’s head, and that was a mighty great wound. + +Then Gunnlaug said, “Evilly hast thou beguiled me, and done traitorously +wherein I trusted thee.” + +Raven answers, “Thou sayest sooth, but this brought me to it, that I +begrudged thee to lie in the bosom of Helga the Fair.” + +Thereat they fought on, recking of nought; but the end of it was that +Gunnlaug overcame Raven, and there Raven lost his life.. + +Then the earl’s guides came forward and bound the head-wound of +Gunnlaug, and in meanwhile, he sat and sang:-- + + “O thou sword-storm stirrer, + Raven, stem of battle + Famous, fared against me + Fiercely in the spear din. + Many a flight of metal + Was borne on me this morning, + By the spear-walls’ builder, + Ring-bearer, on hard Dingness.” + +After that they buried the dead, and got Gunnlaug on to his horse +thereafter, and brought him right down to Lifangr. There he lay three +nights, and got all his rights of a priest, and died thereafter, and was +buried at the church there. + +All men thought it great scathe of both of these men, Gunnlaug and +Raven, amid such deeds as they died. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. The News of the Fight brought to Iceland. + +Now this summer, before these tidings were brought out hither to +Iceland, Illugi the Black, being at home at Gilsbank, dreamed a dream: +he thought that Gunnlaug came to him in his sleep, all bloody, and he +sang in the dream this stave before him; and Illugi remembered the song +when he woke, and sang it before others:-- + + “Knew I of the hewing + Of Raven’s hilt-finned steel-fish + Byrny-shearing--sword-edge + Sharp clave leg of Raven.-- + Of warm wounds drank the eagle, + When the war-rod slender, + Cleaver of the corpses, + Clave the head of Gunnlaug.” + +This portent befel south at Mossfell, the self-same night, that Onund +dreamed how Raven came to him, covered all over with blood, and sang:-- + + “Red is the sword, but I now + Am undone by Sword-Odin. + ‘Gainst shields beyond the sea-flood + The ruin of shields was wielded. + Methinks the blood-fowl blood-stained + In blood der men’s heads stood there, + The wound-erne yet wound-eager + Trod over wounded bodies?” + +Now the second summer after this, Illugi the Black spoke at the Althing +from the Hill of Laws, and said:-- + +“Wherewith wilt thou make atonement to me for my son, whom Raven, thy +son, beguiled in his troth?” + +Onund answers, “Be it far from me to atone for him, so sorely as their +meeting hath wounded me. Yet will I not ask atonement of thee for my +son.” + +“Then shall my wrath come home to some of thy kin,” says Illugi. And +withal after the Thing was Illugi at most times very sad. + +Tells the tale how this autumn Illugi rode from Gilsbank with thirty +men, and came to Mossfell early in the morning. Then Onund got into the +church with his sons, and took sanctuary; but Illugi caught two of his +kin, one called Biorn and the other Thorgrim, and had Biorn slain, but +the feet smitten from Thorgrim. And thereafter Illugi rode home, and +there was no righting of this for Onund. + +Hermund, Illugi’s son, had little joy after the death of Gunnlaug his +brother, and deemed he was none the more avenged even though this had +been wrought. + +Now there was a man called Raven, brother’s son to Onund of Mossfell; +he was a great sea-farer, and had a ship that lay up in Ramfirth: and in +the spring Hermund Illugison rode from home alone north over Holt-beacon +Heath, even to Ramfirth, and out as far as Board-ere to the ship of +the chapmen. The chapmen were then nearly ready for sea; Raven, the +ship-master, was on shore, and many men with him; Hermund rode up to +him, and thrust him through with his spear, and rode away forthwith: but +all Raven’s men were bewildered at seeing Hermund. + +No atonement came for this slaying, and therewith ended the dealings of +Illugi the Black and Onund of Mossfell. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. The Death of Helga the Fair. + +AS time went on, Thorstein Egilson married his daughter Helga to a man +called Thorkel, son of Hallkel, who lived west in Hraundale. Helga went +to his house with him, but loved him little, for she cannot cease to +think of Gunnlaug, though he be dead. Yet was Thorkel a doughty man, and +wealthy of goods, and a good skald. + +They had children together not a few, one of them was called Thorarin, +another Thorstein, and yet more they had. + +But Helga’s chief joy was to pluck at the threads of that cloak, +Gunnlaug’s gift, and she would be ever gazing at it. + +But on a time there came a great sickness to the house of Thorkel and +Helga, and many were bed-ridden for a long time. Helga also fell sick, +and yet she could not keep abed. + +So one Saturday evening Helga sat in the fire-hall, and leaned her head +upon her husband’s knees, and had the cloak Gunnlaug’s gift sent for; +and when the cloak came to her she sat up and plucked at it, and gazed +thereon awhile, and then sank back upon her husband’s bosom, and was +dead. Then Thorkel sang this:-- + + “Dead in mine arms she droopeth, + My dear one, gold-rings bearer, + For God hath changed the life-days + Of this Lady of the linen. + Weary pain hath pined her, + But unto me, the seeker + Of hoard of fishes highway, + Abiding here is wearier.” + +Helga was buried in the church there, but Thorke dwelt yet at Hraundale: +but a great matter seemed the death of Helga to all, as was to be looked +for. + +AND HERE ENDETH THE STORY. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue +And Raven The Skald, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF GUNNLAUG *** + +***** This file should be named 24421-0.txt or 24421-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/4/2/24421/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/24421-0.zip b/24421-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..51e73c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/24421-0.zip diff --git a/24421-h.zip b/24421-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2431800 --- /dev/null +++ b/24421-h.zip diff --git a/24421-h/24421-h.htm b/24421-h/24421-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f83fcf --- /dev/null +++ b/24421-h/24421-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2641 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Story of Gunnlaug the Worm-tongue and Raven The Skald, by Anonymous + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue And +Raven The Skald, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue And Raven The Skald + 1875 + +Author: Anonymous + +Translator: Eirikr Magnusson And William Morris + +Release Date: January 25, 2008 [EBook #24421] +Last Updated: October 8, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF GUNNLAUG *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE STORY OF <br /> GUNNLAUG THE WORM-TONGUE <br /> AND RAVEN THE SKALD. + </h1> + <h3> + Translated From The Icelandic By Eirikr Magnusson And William Morris + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + 1875 + </h2> + <h4> + [Transcriber’s Note: Thought to be written in the 13th Century] + </h4> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + <i>EVEN AS ARI THORGILSON THE LEARNED, THE PRIEST, HATH TOLD IT, WHO + WAS THE MAN OF ALL ICELAND MOST LEARNED IN TALES OF THE LAND’S + INHABITING AND IN LORE OF TIME AGONE</i>. + </p> + </blockquote> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. Of Thorstein Egilson and his Kin. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. Of Thorsteins Dream. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. Of the Birth and Fostering of + Helga the Fair. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. Of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue and his + Kin. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. Of Raven and his Kin. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. How Helga was vowed to Gunnlaug, + and of Gunnlaug’s faring abroad. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. Of Gunnlaug in the East and the + West. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. Of Gunnlaug in Ireland. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. Of the Quarrel between Gunnlaug and + Raven before the Swedish King. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. How Raven came home to Iceland, and + asked for Helga to Wife. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. Of how Gunnlaug must needs abide + away from Iceland. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. Of Gunnlaug’s landing, and how he + found Helga wedded to Raven. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. Of the Winter-Wedding at Skaney, + and how Gunnlaug gave the Kings Cloak to Helga. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. Of the Holmgang at the Althing. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. How Gunnlaug and Raven agreed to go + East to Norway, to try the matter again. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. How the two Foes met and fought at + Dingness. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII. The News of the Fight brought to + Iceland. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. The Death of Helga the Fair. + </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. Of Thorstein Egilson and his Kin. + </h2> + <p> + There was a man called Thorstein, the son of Egil, the son of Skallagrim, + the son of Kveldulf the Hersir of Norway. Asgerd was the mother of + Thorstein; she was the daughter of Biorn Hold. Thorstein dwelt at Burg in + Burg-firth; he was rich of fee, and a great chief, a wise man, meek and of + measure in all wise. He was nought of such wondrous growth and strength as + his father Egil had been; yet was he a right mighty man, and much beloved + of all folk. + </p> + <p> + Thorstein was goodly to look on, flaxen-haired, and the best-eyed of men; + and so say men of lore that many of the kin of the Mere-men, who are come + of Egil, have been the goodliest folk; yet, for all that, this kindred + have differed much herein, for it is said that some of them have been + accounted the most ill-favoured of men: but in that kin have been also + many men of great prowess in many wise, such as Kiartan, the son of Olaf + Peacock, and Slaying-Bardi, and Skuli, the son of Thorstein. Some have + been great bards, too, in that kin, as Biorn, the champion of Hit-dale, + priest Einar Skulison, Snorri Sturluson, and many others. + </p> + <p> + Now, Thorstein had to wife Jofrid, the daughter of Gunnar, the son of + Hlifar. This Gunnar was the best skilled in weapons, and the lithest of + limb of all bonderfolk who have been in Iceland; the second was Gunnar of + Lithend; but Steinthor of Ere was the third. Jofrid was eighteen winters + old when Thorstein wedded her; she was a widow, for Thorodd, son of Odd of + Tongue, had had her to wife aforetime. Their daughter was Hungerd, who was + brought up at Thorstein’s at Burg. Jofrid was a very stirring woman; she + and Thorstein had many children betwixt them, but few of them come into + this tale. Skuli was the eldest of their sons, Kollsvein the second, Egil + the third. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. Of Thorsteins Dream. + </h2> + <p> + One summer, it is said, a ship came from over the main into Gufaros. + Bergfinn was he hight who was the master thereof, a Northman of kin, rich + in goods, and somewhat stricken in years, and a wise man he was withal. + </p> + <p> + Now, goodman Thorstein rode to the ship, as it was his wont mostly to rule + the market, and this he did now. The Eastmen got housed, but Thorstein + took the master to himself, for thither he prayed to go. Bergfinn was of + few words throughout the winter, but Thorstein treated him well The + Eastman had great joy of dreams. + </p> + <p> + One day in spring-tide Thorstein asked Bergfinn if he would ride with him + up to Hawkfell, where at that time was the Thing-stead of the + Burg-firthers; for Thorstein had been told that the walls of his booth had + fallen in. The Eastman said he had good will to go, so that day they rode, + some three together, from home, and the house-carles of Thorstein withal, + till they came up under Hawkfell to a farmstead called Foxholes. There + dwelt a man of small wealth called Atli, who was Thorstein’s tenant + Thorstein bade him come and work with them, and bring with him hoe and + spade. This he did, and when they came to the tofts of the booth, they set + to work all of them, and did out the walls. + </p> + <p> + The weather was hot with sunshine that day, and Thorstein and the Eastman + grew heavy; and when they had moved out the walls, those two sat down + within the tofts, and Thorstein slept, and fared ill in his sleep. The + Eastman sat beside him, and let him have his dream fully out, and when he + awoke he was much wearied. Then the Eastman asked him what he had dreamt, + as he had had such an ill time of it in his sleep. + </p> + <p> + Thorstein said, “Nay, dreams betoken nought.” + </p> + <p> + But as they rode homeward in the evening, the Eastman asked him again what + he had dreamt. + </p> + <p> + Thorstein said, “If I tell thee the dream, then shalt thou unriddle it to + me, as it verily is.” + </p> + <p> + The Eastman said he would risk it. + </p> + <p> + Then Thorstein said: “This was my dream; for methought I was at home at + Burg, standing outside the men’s-door, and I looked up at the house-roof, + and on the ridge I saw a swan, goodly and fair, and I thought it was mine + own, and deemed it good beyond all things. Then I saw a great eagle sweep + down from the mountains, and fly thitherward and alight beside the swan, + and chuckle over her lovingly; and methouht the swan seemed well content + thereat; but I noted that the eagle was black-eyed, and that on him were + iron claws: valiant he seemed to me. + </p> + <p> + “After this I thought I saw another fowl come flying from the south + quarter, and he, too, came hither to Burg, and sat down on the house + beside the swan, and would fain be fond with her. This also was a mighty + eagle. + </p> + <p> + “But soon I thought that the eagle first-come ruffled up at the coming of + the other. Then they fought fiercely and long, and this I saw that both + bled, and such was the end of their play, that each tumbled either way + down from the house-roof, and there they lay both dead. + </p> + <p> + “But the swan sat left alone, drooping much, and sad of semblance. + </p> + <p> + “Then I saw a fowl fly from the west; that was a falcon, and he sat beside + the swan and made fondly towards her, and they flew away both together + into one and the same quarter, and therewith I awoke. + </p> + <p> + “But a dream of no mark this is,” he says, “and will in all likelihood + betoken gales, that they shall meet in the air from those quarters whence + I deemed the fowl flew.” + </p> + <p> + The Eastman spake: “I deem it nowise such,” saith he. + </p> + <p> + Thorstein said, “Make of the dream, then, what seemeth likest to thee, and + let me hear.” + </p> + <p> + Then said the Eastman: “These birds are like to be fetches of men: but thy + wife sickens now, and she will give birth to a woman-child fair and + lovely; and dearly thou wilt love her; but high-born men shall woo thy + daughter, coming from such quarters as the eagles seemed to fly from, and + shall love her with overweening love, and shall fight about her, and both + lose their lives thereby. And thereafter a third man, from the quarter + whence came the falcon, shall woo her, and to that man shall she be + wedded. Now, I have unravelled thy dream, and I think things will befall + as I have said.” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein answered: “In evil and unfriendly wise is the dream interpreted, + nor do I deem thee fit for the work of unriddling dreams.” + </p> + <p> + Then Eastman said, “Thou shalt find how it will come to pass.” + </p> + <p> + But Thorstein estranged himself from the Eastman thenceforward, and he + left that summer, and now he is out of the tale. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. Of the Birth and Fostering of Helga the Fair. + </h2> + <p> + This summer Thorstein got ready to ride to the Thing, and spake to Jofrid + his wife before he went from home. “So is it,” he says, “that thou art + with child now, but thy child shall be cast forth if thou bear a woman; + but nourished if it be a man.” + </p> + <p> + Now, at this time when all the land was heathen, it was somewhat the wont + of such men as had little wealth, and were like to have many young + children on their hands, to have them cast forth, but an evil deed it was + always deemed to be. + </p> + <p> + And now, when Thorstein had said this, Jofrid answers, “This is a word all + unlike thee, such a man as thou art, and surely to a wealthy man like thee + it will not seem good that this should be done.” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein answered: “Thou knowest my mind, and that no good will hap if my + will be thwarted.” + </p> + <p> + So he rode to the Thing; but while he was gone Jofrid gave birth to a + woman-child wondrous fair. The women would fain show her to the mother; + she said there was little need thereof, but had her shepherd Thorvard + called to her, and spake to him:— + </p> + <p> + “Thou shalt take my horse and saddle it, and bring this child west to + Herdholt, to Thorgerd, Egil’s daughter, and pray her to nourish it + secretly, so that Thorstein may not know thereof. For with such looks of + love do I behold this child, that surely I cannot bear to have it cast + forth. Here are three marks of silver, have them in reward of thy work; + but west there Thorgerd will get thee fare and food over the sea.” + </p> + <p> + Then Thorvard did her bidding; he rode with the child to Herdholt, and + gave it into Thorgerd’s hands, and she had it nourished at a tenant’s of + hers who dwelt at Freedmans-stead up in Hvamfirth; but she got fare for + Thorvard north in Steingrims-firth, in Shell-creek, and gave him meet + outfit for his sea-faring: he went thence abroad, and is now out of the + story. + </p> + <p> + Now when Thorstein came home from the Thing, Jofrid told him that the + child had been cast forth according to his word, but that the herdsman had + fled away and stolen her horse. Thorstein said she had done well, and got + himself another herdsman. So six winters passed, and this matter was + nowise wotted of. + </p> + <p> + Now in those days Thorstein rode to Herdholt, being bidden there as guest + of his brother-in-law, Olaf Peacock, the son of Hoskuld, who was then + deemed to be the chief highest of worth among all men west there. Good + cheer was made Thorstein, as was like to be; and one day at the feast it + is said that Thorgerd sat in the high seat talking with her brother + Thorstein, while Olaf was talking to other men; but on the bench right + over against them sat three little maidens. Then said Thorgerd,— + </p> + <p> + “How dost thou, brother, like the look of these three little maidens + sitting straight before us?” + </p> + <p> + “Right well,” he answers, “but one is by far the fairest; she has all the + goodliness of Olaf, but the whiteness and the countenance of us, the + Mere-men.” + </p> + <p> + Thorgerd answered: “Surely this is true, brother, wherein thou sayest that + she has the fairness and countenance of us Mere-folk, but the goodliness + of Olaf Peacock she has not got, for she is not his daughter.” + </p> + <p> + “How can that be,” says Thorstein, “being thy daughter none the less?” + </p> + <p> + She answered: “To say sooth, kinsman,” quoth she, “this fair maiden is not + my daughter, but thine.” + </p> + <p> + And therewith she told him all as it had befallen, and prayed him to + forgive her and his own wife that trespass. + </p> + <p> + Thorstein said: “I cannot blame you two for having done this; most things + will fall as they are fated, and well have ye covered over my folly: so + look I on this maiden that I deem it great good luck to have so fair a + child. But now, what is her name?” + </p> + <p> + “Helga she is called,” says Thorgerd. + </p> + <p> + “Helga the Fair,” says Thorstein. “But now shalt thou make her ready to + come home with me.” + </p> + <p> + She did so, and Thorstein was led out with good gifts, and Helga rode with + him to his home, and was brought up there with much honour and great love + from father and mother and all her kin. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. Of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue and his Kin. + </h2> + <p> + Now at this time there dwelt at Gilsbank, up in White-water-side, Illugi + the Black, son of Hallkel, the son of Hrosskel. The mother of Illugi was + Thurid Dandle, daughter of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue. + </p> + <p> + Illugi was the next greatest chief in Burg-firth after Thorstein Egilson. + He was a man of broad lands and hardy of mood, and wont to do well to his + friends; he had to wife Ingibiorg, the daughter of Asbiorn Hordson, from + Ornolfsdale; the mother of Ingibiorg was Thorgerd, the daughter of + Midfirth-Skeggi. The children of Illugi and Ingibiorg were many, but few + of them have to do with this story. Hermund was one of their sons, and + Gunnlaug another; both were hopeful men, and at this time of ripe growth. + </p> + <p> + It is told of Gunnlaug that he was quick of growth in his early youth, + big, and strong; his hair was light red, and very goodly of fashion; he + was dark-eyed, somewhat ugly-nosed, yet of lovesome countenance; thin of + flank he was, and broad of shoulder, and the best-wrought of men; his + whole mind was very masterful; eager was he from his youth up, and in all + wise unsparing and hardy; he was a great skald, but somewhat bitter in his + rhyming, and therefore was he called Gunnlaug Worm-tongue. + </p> + <p> + Hermund was the best beloved of the two brothers, and had the mien of a + great man. + </p> + <p> + When Gunnlaug was fifteen winters old he prayed his father for goods to + fare abroad withal, and said he had will to travel and see the manners of + other folk. Master Illugi was slow to take the matter up, and said he was + unlike to be deemed good in the out-lands “when I can scarcely shape thee + to my own liking at home.” + </p> + <p> + On a morning but a very little afterwards it happened that Illugi came out + early, and saw that his storehouse was opened, and that some sacks of + wares, six of them, had been brought out into the road, and therewithal + too some pack-gear. Now, as he wondered at this, there came up a man + leading four horses, and who should it be but his son Gunnlaug. Then said + he:— + </p> + <p> + “I it was who brought out the sacks.” + </p> + <p> + Illugi asked him why he had done so. He said that they should make his + faring goods. + </p> + <p> + Illugi said: “In nowise shalt thou thwart my will, nor fare anywhere + sooner than I like!” and in again he swung the ware-sacks therewith. + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug rode thence and came in the evening down to Burg, and + goodman Thorstein asked him to bide there, and Gunnlaug was fain of that + proffer. He told Thorstein how things had gone betwixt him and his father, + and Thorstein offered to let him bide there as long as he liked, and for + some seasons Gunnlaug abode there, and learned law-craft of Thorstein, and + all men accounted well of him. + </p> + <p> + Now Gunnlaug and Helga would be always at the chess-playing together, and + very soon each found favour with the other, as came to be proven well + enough afterwards: they were very nigh of an age. + </p> + <p> + Helga was so fair, that men of lore say that she was the fairest woman of + Iceland, then or since; her hair was so plenteous and long that it could + cover her all over, and it was as fair as a band of gold; nor was there + any so good to choose as Helga the Fair in all Burgfirth, and far and wide + elsewhere. + </p> + <p> + Now one day, as men sat in the hall at Burg, Gunnlaug spake to Thorstein: + “One thing in law there is which thou hast not taught me, and that is how + to woo me a wife.” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein said, “That is but a small matter,” and therewith taught him how + to go about it. + </p> + <p> + Then said Gunnlaug, “Now shalt thou try if I have understood all: I shall + take thee by the hand and make as if I were wooing thy daughter Helga.” + </p> + <p> + “I see no need of that,” says Thorstein. Gunnlaug, however, groped then + and there after his hand, and seizing it said, “Nay, grant me this + though.” + </p> + <p> + “Do as thou wilt, then,” said Thorstein; “but be it known to all who are + hereby that this shall be as if it had been unspoken, nor shall any guile + follow herein.” + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug named for himself witnesses, and betrothed Helga to him, and + asked thereafter if it would stand good thus. Thorstein said that it was + well; and those who were present were mightily pleased at all this. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. Of Raven and his Kin. + </h2> + <p> + There was a man called Onund, who dwelt in the south at Mossfell: he was + the wealthiest of men, and had a priesthood south there about the nesses. + He was married, and his wife was called Geirny. She was the daughter of + Gnup, son of Mold-Gnup, who settled at Grindwick, in the south country. + Their sons were Raven, and Thorarin, and Eindridi; they were all hopeful + men, but Raven was in all wise the first of them. He was a big man and a + strong, the sightliest of men and a good skald; and when he was fully + grown he fared between sundry lands, and was well accounted of wherever he + came. + </p> + <p> + Thorod the Sage, the son of Eyvind, then dwelt at Hjalli, south in Olfus, + with Skapti his son, who was then the spokesman-at-law in Iceland. The + mother of Skapti was Ranveig, daughter of Gnup, the son of Mold-Gnup; and + Skapti and the sons of Onund were sisters’ sons. Between these kinsmen was + much friendship as well as kinship. + </p> + <p> + At this time Thorfin, the son of Selthorir, dwelt at Red-Mel, and had + seven sons, who were all the hopefullest of men; and of them were these—Thorgils, + Eyjolf, and Thorir; and they were all the greatest men out there. But + these men who have now been named lived all at one and the same time. + </p> + <p> + Next to this befell those tidings, the best that ever have befallen here + in Iceland, that the whole land became Christian, and that all folk cast + off the old faith. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. How Helga was vowed to Gunnlaug, and of Gunnlaug’s faring + abroad. + </h2> + <p> + Gunnlaug Worm-Tongue was, as is aforesaid, whiles at Burg with Thorstein, + whiles with his father Illugi at Gilsbank, three winters together, and was + by now eighteen winters old; and father and son were now much more of a + mind. + </p> + <p> + There was a man called Thorkel the Black; he was a house-carle of Illugi, + and near akin to him, and had been brought up in his house. To him fell an + heritage north at As, in Water-dale, and he prayed Gunnlaug to go with him + thither. This he did, and so they rode, the two together, to As. There + they got the fee; it was given up to them by those who had the keeping of + it, mostly because of Gunnlaug’s furtherance. + </p> + <p> + But as they rode from the north they guested at Grimstongue, at a rich + bonder’s who dwelt there; but in the morning a herdsman took Gunnlaug’s + horse, and it had sweated much by then he got it back. Then Gunnlaug smote + the herdsman, and stunned him; but the bonder would in nowise bear this, + and claimed boot therefor. Gunnlaug offered to pay him one mark. The + bonder thought it too little. + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug sang,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Bade I the middling mighty + To have a mark of waves’ flame; + Giver of grey seas? glitter, + This gift shalt thou make shift with. + If the elf sun of the waters + From out of purse thou lettest, + O waster of the worm’s bedy + Awaits thee sorrow later.” + </pre> + <p> + So the peace was made as Gunnlaug bade, and in such wise the two rode + south. + </p> + <p> + Now, a little while after, Gunnlaug asked his father a second time for + goods for going abroad. + </p> + <p> + Illugi says, “Now shalt thou have thy will, for thou hast wrought thyself + into something better than thou wert.” So Illugi rode hastily from home, + and bought for Gunnlaug half a ship which lay in Gufaros, from Audun + Festargram—this Audun was he who would not flit abroad the sons of + Oswif the Wise, after the slaying of Kiartan Olafson, as is told in the + story of the Laxdalemen, which thing though betid later than this.—And + when Illugi came home, Gunnlaug thanked him well. + </p> + <p> + Thorkel the Black betook himself to seafaring with Gunnlaug, and their + wares were brought to the ship; but Gunnlaug was at Burg while they made + her ready, and found more cheer in talk with Helga than in toiling with + chapmen. + </p> + <p> + Now one day Thorstein asked Gunnlaug if he would ride to his horses with + him up to Long-water-dale. Gunnlaug said he would. So they ride both + together till they come to the mountain-dairies of Thorstein, called + Thorgils-stead. There were stud-horses of Thorstein, four of them + together, all red of hue. There was one horse very goodly, but little + tried: this horse Thorstein offered to give to Gunnlaug. He said he was in + no need of horses, as he was going away from the country; and so they ride + to other stud-horses. There was a grey horse with four mares, and he was + the best of horses in Burgfirth. This one, too, Thorstein offered to give + Gunnlaug, but he said, “I desire these in no wise more than the others; + but why dost thou not bid me what I will take?” + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” said Thorstein. + </p> + <p> + “Helga the Fair, thy daughter,” says Gunnlaug. + </p> + <p> + “That rede is not to be settled so hastily,” said Thorstein; and + therewithal got on other talk. And now they ride homewards down along + Long-water. + </p> + <p> + Then said Gunnlaug, “I must needs know what thou wilt answer me about the + wooing.” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein answers: “I heed not thy vain talk,” says he. + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug says, “This is my whole mind, and no vain words.” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein says, “Thou shouldst first know thine own will. Art thou not + bound to fare abroad? and yet thou makest as if thou wouldst go marry. + Neither art thou an even match for Helga while thou art so unsettled, and + therefore this cannot so much as be looked at.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug says, “Where lookest thou for a match for thy daughter, if thou + wilt not give her to the son of Illugi the Black; or who are they + throughout Burg-firth who are of more note than he?” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein answered: “I will not play at men-mating,” says he, “but if thou + wert such a man as he is, thou wouldst not be turned away.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug said, “To whom wilt thou give thy daughter rather than to me?” + </p> + <p> + Said Thorstein, “Hereabout are many good men to choose from. Thorfin of + Red-Mel hath seven sons, and all of them men of good manners.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug answers, “Neither Onund nor Thorfin are men as good as my father. + Nay, thou thyself clearly fallest short of him—or what hast thou to + set against his strife with Thorgrim the Priest, the son of Kiallak, and + his sons, at Thorsness Thing, where he carried all that was in debate?” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein answers, “I drave away Steinar, the son of Onund Sioni, which + was deemed somewhat of a deed.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug says, “Therein thou wast holpen by thy father Egil; and, to end + all, it is for few bonders to cast away my alliance.” + </p> + <p> + Said Thorstein, “Carry thy cowing away to the fellows up yonder at the + mountains; for down here, on the Meres, it shall avail thee nought.” + </p> + <p> + Now in the evening they come home; but next morning Gunnlaug rode up to + Gilsbank, and prayed his father to ride with him a-wooing out to Burg. + </p> + <p> + Illugi answered, “Thou art an unsettled man, being bound for faring + abroad, but makest now as if thou wouldst busy thyself with wife-wooing; + and so much do I know, that this is not to Thorstein’s mind.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug answers, “I shall go abroad all the same, nor shall I be well + pleased but if thou further this.” + </p> + <p> + So after this Illugi rode with eleven men from home down to Burg, and + Thorstein greeted him well. Early in the morning Illugi said to Thorstein, + “I would speak to thee.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us go, then, to the top of the Burg, and talk together there,” says + Thorstein; and so they did, and Gunnlaug went with them. + </p> + <p> + Then said Illugi, “My kinsman Gunnlaug tells me that he has begun a talk + with thee on his own behalf, praying that he might woo thy daughter Helga; + but now I would fain know what is like to come of this matter. His kin is + known to thee, and our possessions; from my hand shall be spared neither + land nor rule over men, if such things might perchance further matters.” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein said, “Herein alone Gunnlaug pleases me not, that I find him an + unsettled man; but if he were of a mind like thine, little would I hang + back.” + </p> + <p> + Illugi said, “It will cut our friendship across if thou gainsayest me and + my son an equal match.” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein answers, “For thy words and our friendship then, Helga shall be + vowed, but not betrothed, to Gunnlaug, and shall bide for him three + winters: but Gunnlaug shall go abroad and shape himself to the ways of + good men; but I shall be free from all these matters if he does not then + come back, or if his ways are not to my liking.” + </p> + <p> + Thereat they parted; Illugi rode home, but Gunnlaug rode to his ship. But + when they had wind at will they sailed for the main, and made the northern + part of Norway, and sailed landward along Thrandheim to Nidaros; there + they rode in the harbour, and unshipped their goods. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. Of Gunnlaug in the East and the West. + </h2> + <p> + In those days Earl Eric, the son of Hakon, and his brother Svein, ruled in + Norway. Earl Eric abode as then at Hladir, which was left to him by his + father, and a mighty lord he was. Skuli, the son of Thorstein, was with + the earl at that time, and was one of his court, and well esteemed. + </p> + <p> + Now they say that Gunnlaug and Audun Festargram, and seven of them + together, went up to Hladir to the earl. Gunnlaug was so clad that he had + on a grey kirtle and white long-hose; he had a boil on his foot by the + instep, and from this oozed blood and matter as he strode on. In this + guise he went before the earl with Audun and the rest of them, and greeted + him well. The earl knew Audun, and asked him tidings from Iceland. Audun + told him what there was toward. Then the earl asked Gunnlaug who he was, + and Gunnlaug told him his name and kin. Then the earl said: “Skuli + Thorstein’s son, what manner of man is this in Iceland?” + </p> + <p> + “Lord,” says he, “give him good welcome, for he is the son of the best man + in Iceland, Illugi the Black of Gilsbank, and my foster-brother withal.” + </p> + <p> + The earl asked, “What ails thy foot, Icelander?” + </p> + <p> + “A boil, lord,” said he. + </p> + <p> + “And yet thou wentest not halt?” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug answers, “Why go halt while both legs are long alike?” + </p> + <p> + Then said one of the earl’s men, called Thorir: “He swaggereth hugely, + this Icelander! It would not be amiss to try him a little.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug looked at him and sang:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “A courtman there is + Full evil I wis, + A bad man and black, + Belief let him lack.” + </pre> + <p> + Then would Thorir seize an axe. The earl spake: “Let it be,” says he; “to + such things men should pay no heed. But now, Icelander, how old a man art + thou?” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug answers: “I am eighteen winters old as now,” says he. + </p> + <p> + Then says Earl Eric, “My spell is that thou shalt not live eighteen + winters more.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug said, somewhat under his breath: “Pray not against me, but for + thyself rather.” + </p> + <p> + The earl asked thereat, “What didst thou say, Icelander?” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug answers, “What I thought well befitting, that thou shouldst bid + no prayers against me, but pray well for thyself rather.” + </p> + <p> + “What prayers, then?” says the earl. + </p> + <p> + “That thou mightest not meet thy death after the manner of Earl Hakon, thy + father.” + </p> + <p> + The earl turned red as blood, and bade them take the rascal in haste; but + Skuli stepped up to the earl, and said: “Do this for my words, lord, and + give this man peace, so that he depart at his swiftest.” + </p> + <p> + The earl answered, “At his swiftest let him be off then, if he will have + peace, and never let him come again within mv realm.” + </p> + <p> + Then Skuli went out with Gunnlaug down to the bridges, where there was an + England-bound ship ready to put out; therein Skuli got for Gunnlaug a + berth, as well as for Thorkel, his kinsman; but Gunnlaug gave his ship + into Audun’s ward, and so much of his goods as he did not take with him. + </p> + <p> + Now sail Gunnlaug and his fellows into the English main, and come at + autumntide south to London Bridge, where they hauled ashore their ship. + </p> + <p> + Now at that time King Ethelred, the son of Edgar, ruled over England, and + was a good lord; this winter he sat in London. But in those days there was + the same tongue in England as in Norway and Denmark; but the tongues + changed when William the Bastard won England, for thenceforward French + went current there, for he was of French kin. + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug went presently to the king, and greeted him well and worthily, + The king asked him from what land he came, and Gunnlaug told him all as it + was. “But,” said he, “I have come to meet thee, lord, for that I have made + a song on thee, and I would that it might please thee to hearken to that + song.” The king said it should be so, and Gunnlaug gave forth the song + well and proudly; and this is the burden thereof:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “As God are all folk fearing + The free lord King of England, + Kin of all kings and all folk, + To Ethelred the head tow.” + </pre> + <p> + The king thanked him for the song, and gave him as song-reward a scarlet + cloak lined with the costliest of furs, and golden-broidered down to the + hem; and made him his man; and Gunnlaug was with him all the winter, and + was well accounted of. + </p> + <p> + One day, in the morning early, Gunnlaug met three men in a certain street, + and Thororm was the name of their leader; he was big and strong, and right + evil to deal with. He said, “Northman, lend me some money.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug answered, “That were ill counselled to lend one’s money to + unknown men.” + </p> + <p> + He said, “I will pay it thee back on a named day.” + </p> + <p> + “Then shall it be risked,” says Gunnlaug; and he lent him the fee withal. + </p> + <p> + But some time afterwards Gunnlaug met the king, and told him of the + money-lending. The king answered, “Now hast thou thriven little, for this + is the greatest robber and reiver; deal with him in no wise, but I will + give thee money as much as thine was.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug said, “Then do we, your men, do after a sorry sort, if, treading + sackless folk under foot, we let such fellows as this deal us out our lot. + Nay, that shall never be.” + </p> + <p> + Soon after he met Thororm and claimed the fee of him. He said he was not + going to pay it. + </p> + <p> + Then sang Gunnlaug:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Evil counselled art thou, + Gold from us withholding; + The reddener of the edges, + Pricking on with tricking. + Wot ye what? they called me, + Worm-tongue, yet a youngling; + Nor for nought so hight I; + Now is time to show it!” + </pre> + <p> + “Now I will make an offer good in law,” says Gunnlaug; “that thou either + pay me my money, or else that thou go on holm with me in three nights’ + space.” + </p> + <p> + Then laughed the viking, and said, “Before thee none have come to that, to + call me to holm, despite of all the ruin that many a man has had to take + at my hands. Well, I am ready to go.” + </p> + <p> + Thereon they parted for that time. + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug told the king what had befallen; and he said, “Now, indeed, have + things taken a right hopeless turn; for this man’s eyes can dull any + weapon. But thou shalt follow my rede; here is a sword I will give thee—with + that thou shalt fight, but before the battle show him another.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug thanked the king well therefor. + </p> + <p> + Now when they were ready for the holm, Thororm asked what sort of a sword + it was that he had. Gunnlaug unsheathed it and showed him, but had a loop + round the handle of the king’s sword, and slipped it over his hand; the + bearserk looked on the sword, and said, “I fear not that sword.” + </p> + <p> + But now he dealt a blow on Gunnlaug with his sword, and cut off from him + nigh all his shield; Gunnlaug smote in turn with the king’s gift; the + bearserk stood shieldless before him, thinking he had the same weapon he + had shown him, but Gunnlaug smote him his deathblow then and there. + </p> + <p> + The king thanked him for this work, and he got much fame therefor, both in + England and far and wide elsewhere. + </p> + <p> + In the spring, when ships sailed from land to land, Gunnlaug prayed King + Ethelred for leave to sail somewhither; the king asks what he was about + then. Gunnlaug said, “I would fulfil what I have given my word to do,” and + sang this stave withal:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “My ways must I be wending + Three kings’ walls to see yet, + And earls twain, as I promised + Erewhile to land-sharers. + Neither will I wend me + Back, the worms’-bed lacking, + By war-lord’s son, the wealth-free, + For work done gift well given.” + </pre> + <p> + “So be it, then, skald,” said the king, and withal he gave him a ring that + weighed six ounces; “but,” said he, “thou shalt give me thy word to come + back next autumn, for I will not let thee go altogether, because of thy + great prowess.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. Of Gunnlaug in Ireland. + </h2> + <p> + Thereafter Gunnlaug sailed from England with chapmen north to Dublin. In + those days King Sigtrygg Silky-beard, son of King Olaf Kvaran and Queen + Kormlada, ruled over Ireland; and he had then borne sway but a little + while. Gunnlaug went before the king, and greeted him well and worthily. + The king received him as was meet. Then Gunnlaug said, “I have made a song + on thee, and I would fain have silence therefor.” + </p> + <p> + The king answered, “No men have before now come forward with songs for me, + and surely will I hearken to thine.” Then Gunnlaug brought the song, + whereof this is the burden,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Swaru’s steed + Doth Sigtrygg feed.” + </pre> + <p> + And this is therein also:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Praise-worth I can + Well measure in man, + And kings, one by one— + Lo here, Kvararis son! + Gruageth the king + Gift of gold ring? + I, singer, know + His wont to bestow. + Let the high king say, + Heard he or this day, + Song drapu-measure + Dearer a treasure?” + </pre> + <p> + The king thanked him for the song, and called his treasurer to him, and + said, “How shall the song be rewarded?” + </p> + <p> + “What hast thou will to give, lord?” says he. + </p> + <p> + “How will it be rewarded if I give him two ships for it?” said the king. + </p> + <p> + Then said the treasurer, “This is too much, lord; other kings give in + regard of songs good keepsakes, fair swords, or golden rings.” + </p> + <p> + So the king gave him his own raiment of new scarlet, a gold-embroidered + kirtle, and a cloak lined with choice furs, and a gold ring which weighed + a mark. Gunnlaug thanked him well. + </p> + <p> + He dwelt a short time here, and then went thence to the Orkneys. + </p> + <p> + Then was lord in Orkney, Earl Sigurd, the son of Hlodver; he was friendly + to Icelanders. Now Gunnlaug greeted the earl well, and said he had a song + to bring him. The earl said he would listen thereto, since he was of such + great kin in Iceland. + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug brought the song; it was a shorter lay, and well done. The + earl gave him for lay-reward a broad axe, all inlaid with silver, and bade + him abide with him. + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug thanked him both for his gift and his offer, but said he was + bound east for Sweden; and thereafter he went on board ship with chapmen + who sailed to Norway. + </p> + <p> + In the autumn they came east to King’s Cliff, Thorkel, his kinsman, being + with him all the time. From King’s Cliff they got a guide up to West + Gothland, and came upon a cheaping-stead, called Skarir: there ruled an + earl called Sigurd, a man stricken in years. Gunnlaug went before him, and + told him he had made a song on him; the earl gave a willing ear hereto, + and Gunnlaug brought the song, which was a shorter lay. + </p> + <p> + The earl thanked him, and rewarded the song well, and bade him abide there + that winter. + </p> + <p> + Earl Sigurd had a great Yule-feast in the winter, and on Yule-eve came + thither men sent from Earl Eric of Norway, twelve of them together, and + brought gifts to Earl Sigurd. The earl made them good cheer, and bade them + sit by Gunnlaug through the Yule-tide; and there was great mirth at + drinks. + </p> + <p> + Now the Gothlanders said that no earl was greater or of more fame than + Earl Sigurd; but the Norwegians thought that Earl Eric was by far the + foremost of the two. Hereon would they bandy words, till they both took + Gunnlaug to be umpire in the matter. + </p> + <p> + Then he sang this stave:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Tell ye, staves of spear-din, + How on sleek-side sea-horse + Oft this earl hath proven + Over-toppling billows; + But Eric, victory’s ash-tree, + Oft hath seen in east-seas + More of high blue billows + Before the bows a-roaring.” + </pre> + <p> + Both sides were content with his finding, but the Norwegians the best. But + after Yule-tide those messengers left with gifts of goodly things, which + Earl Sigurd sent to Earl Eric. + </p> + <p> + Now they told Earl Eric of Gunnlaug’s finding: the earl thought that he + had shown upright dealing and friendship to him herein, and let out some + words, saying that Gunnlaug should have good peace throughout his land. + What the earl had said came thereafter to the ears of Gunnlaug. + </p> + <p> + But now Earl Sigurd gave Gunnlaug a guide east to Tenthland, in Sweden, as + he had asked. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. Of the Quarrel between Gunnlaug and Raven before the Swedish + King. + </h2> + <p> + In those days King Olaf the Swede, son of King Eric the Victorious, and + Sigrid the High-counselled, daughter of Skogul Tosti, ruled over Sweden. + He was a mighty king and renowned, and full fain of fame. + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug came to Upsala towards the time of the Thing of the Swedes in + spring-tide; and when he got to see the king, he greeted him. The king + took his greeting well, and asked who he was. He said he was an + Iceland-man. + </p> + <p> + Then the king called out: “Raven,” says he, “what man is he in Iceland?” + </p> + <p> + Then one stood up from the lower bench, a big man and a stalwart, and + stepped up before the king, and spake: “Lord,” says he, “he is of good + kin, and himself the most stalwart of men.” + </p> + <p> + “Let him go, then, and sit beside thee,” said the king. + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug said, “I have a song to set forth before thee, king, and I + would fain have peace while thou hearkenest thereto.” + </p> + <p> + “Go ye first, and sit ye down,” says the king, “for there is no leisure + now to sit listening to songs.” + </p> + <p> + So they did as he bade them. + </p> + <p> + Now Gunnlaug and Raven fell a-talking together, and each told each of his + travels. Raven said that he had gone the summer before from Iceland to + Norway, and had come east to Sweden in the forepart of winter. They soon + got friendly together. + </p> + <p> + But one day, when the Thing was over, they were both before the king, + Gunnlaug and Raven. + </p> + <p> + Then spake Gunnlaug, “Now, lord, I would that thou shouldst hear the + song.” + </p> + <p> + “That I may do now,” said the king. + </p> + <p> + “My song too will I set forth now,” says Raven. + </p> + <p> + “Thou mayst do so,” said the king. + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug said, “I will set forth mine first if thou wilt have it so, + king.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” said Raven, “it behoveth me to be first, lord, for I myself came + first to thee.” + </p> + <p> + “Whereto came our fathers forth, so that my father was the little boat + towed behind? Whereto, but nowhere?” says Gunnlaug. “And in likewise shall + it be with us.” + </p> + <p> + Raven answered, “Let us be courteous enough not to make this a matter of + bandying of words. Let the king rule here.” + </p> + <p> + The king said, “Let Gunnlaug set forth his song first, for he will not be + at peace till he has his will.” + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug set forth the song which he had made to King Olaf, and when + it was at an end the king spake. “Raven,” says he, “how is the song done?” + </p> + <p> + “Right well,” he answered; “it is a song full of big words and little + beauty; a somewhat rugged song, as is Gunnlaug’s own mood.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Raven, thy song,” said the king. + </p> + <p> + Raven gave it forth, and when it was done the king said, “How is this song + made, Gunnlaug?” + </p> + <p> + “Well it is, lord,” he said; “this is a pretty song, as is Raven himself + to behold, and delicate of countenance. But why didst thou make a short + song on the king, Raven? Didst thou perchance deem him unworthy of a long + one?” + </p> + <p> + Raven answered, “Let us not talk longer on this; matters will be taken up + again, though it be later.” + </p> + <p> + And thereat, they parted. + </p> + <p> + Soon after Raven became a man of King Olaf’s, and asked him leave to go + away. This the king granted him. And when Raven was ready to go, he spake + to Gunnlaug, and said, “Now shall our friendship be ended, for that thou + must needs shame me here before great men; but in time to come I shall + cast on thee no less shame than thou hadst will to cast on me here.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug answers: “Thy threats grieve me nought. Nowhere are we likely to + come where I shall be thought less worthy than thou.” + </p> + <p> + King Olaf gave to Raven good gifts at parting, and thereafter. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. How Raven came home to Iceland, and asked for Helga to Wife. + </h2> + <p> + Now this spring Raven came from the east to Thrandheim, and fitted out his + ship, and sailed in the summer to Iceland. He brought his ship to + Leiruvag, below the Heath, and his friends and kinsmen were right fain of + him. That winter he was at home with his father, but the summer after he + met at the Althing his kinsman, Skapti the law-man. + </p> + <p> + Then said Raven to him, “Thine aid would I have to go a-wooing to + Thorstein Egilson, to bid Helga his daughter.” + </p> + <p> + Skapti answered, “But is she not already vowed to Gunnlaug Worm-tongue?” + </p> + <p> + Said Raven, “Is not the appointed time of waiting between them passed by? + And far too wanton is he withal, that he should hold or heed it aught.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us then do as thou wouldst,” said Skapti. + </p> + <p> + Thereafter they went with many men to the booth of Thorstein Egilson, and + he greeted them well. + </p> + <p> + Then Skapti spoke: “Raven, my kinsman, is minded to woo thy daughter + Helga. Thou knowest well his blood, his wealth, and his good manners, his + many mighty kinsmen and friends.” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein said, “She is already the vowed maiden of Gunnlaug, and with him + shall I hold all words spoken.” + </p> + <p> + Skapti said, “Are not the three winters worn now that were named between + you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Thorstein; “but the summer is not yet worn, and he may still + come out this summer.” + </p> + <p> + Then Skapti said, “But if he cometh not this summer, what hope may we have + of the matter then?” + </p> + <p> + Thorstein answered, “We are like to come here next summer, and then may we + see what may wisely be done, but it will not do to speak hereof longer as + at this time.” + </p> + <p> + Thereon they parted. And men rode home from the Althing. But this talk of + Raven’s wooing of Helga was nought hidden. + </p> + <p> + That summer Gunnlaug came not out. + </p> + <p> + The next summer, at the Althing, Skapti and his folk pushed the wooing + eagerly, and said that Thorstein was free as to all matters with Gunnlaug. + </p> + <p> + Thorstein answered, “I have few daughters to see to, and fain am I that + they should not be the cause of strife to any man. Now I will first see + Illugi the Black.” And so he did. . + </p> + <p> + And when they met, he said to Illugi, “Dost thou not think that I am free + from all troth with thy son Gunnlaug?” + </p> + <p> + Illugi said, “Surely, if thou wiliest it. Little can I say herein, as I do + not know clearly what Gunnlaug is about.” + </p> + <p> + Then Thorstein went to Skapti, and a bargain was struck that the wedding + should be at Burg, about winter-nights, if Gunnlaug did not come out that + summer; but that Thorstein should be free from all troth with Raven if + Gunnlaug should come and fetch his bride. + </p> + <p> + After this men ride home from the Thing, and Gunnlaug’s coming was long + drawn out. But Helga thought evilly of all these redes. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. Of how Gunnlaug must needs abide away from Iceland. + </h2> + <p> + Now it is to be told of Gunnlaug that he went from Sweden the same summer + that Raven went to Iceland, and good gifts he had from King Olaf at + parting. + </p> + <p> + King Ethelred welcomed Gunnlaug worthily, and that winter he was with the + king, and was held in great honour. + </p> + <p> + In those days Knut the Great, son of Svein, ruled Denmark, and had + new-taken his father’s heritage, and he vowed ever to wage war on England, + for that his father had won a great realm there before he died west in + that same land. + </p> + <p> + And at that time there was a great army of Danish men west there, whose + chief was Heming, the son of Earl Strut-Harald, and brother to Earl + Sigvaldi, and he held for King Knut that land that Svein had won. + </p> + <p> + Now in the spring Gunnlaug asked the king for leave to go away, but he + said, “It ill beseems that thou, my man, shouldst go away now, when all + bodes such mighty war in the land.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug said, “Thou shalt rule, lord; but give me leave next summer to + depart, if the Danes come not.” + </p> + <p> + The king answered, “Then we shall see.” + </p> + <p> + Now this summer went by, and the next winter, but no Danes came; and after + midsummer Gunnlaug got his leave to depart from the king, and went thence + east to Norway, and found Earl Eric in Thrandheim, at Hladir, and the earl + greeted him well, and bade him abide with him. Gunnlaug thanked him for + his offer, but said he would first go out to Iceland, to look to his + promised maiden. + </p> + <p> + The earl said, “Now all ships bound for Iceland have sailed.” + </p> + <p> + Then said one of the court, “Here lay, yesterday, Hallfred + Troublous-Skald, out tinder Agdaness.” + </p> + <p> + The earl answered, “That may well be; he sailed hence five nights ago.” + </p> + <p> + Then Earl Eric had Gunnlaug rowed put to Hallfred, who greeted him with + joy; and forthwith a fair wind bore them from land, and they were right + merry. + </p> + <p> + This was late in the summer: but now Hallfred said to Gunnlaug, “Hast thou + heard of how Raven, the son of Onund, is wooing Helga the Fair?” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug said he had heard thereof but dimly. Hallfred tells him all he + knew of it, and therewith, too, that it was the talk of many men that + Raven was in nowise less brave a man than Gunnlaug. Then Gunnlaug sang + this stave:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Light the weather wafteth; + But if this east wind drifted + Week-long, wild upon us + Little were I recking; + More this word I mind of + Me with Raven mated, + Than gain for me the gold-foe + Of days to make me grey-haired.” + </pre> + <p> + Then Hallfred said, “Well, fellow, may’st thou fare better in thy strife + with Raven than I did in mine. I brought my ship some winters ago into + Leiruvag, and had to pay a half-mark in silver to a house-carle of + Raven’s, but I held it back from him. So Raven rode at us with sixty men, + and cut the moorings of the ship, and she was driven up on the shallows, + and we were bound for a wreck. Then I had to give selfdoom to Raven, and a + whole mark I had to pay; and that is the tale of my dealings with him.” + </p> + <p> + Then they two talked together alone of Helga the Fair, and Gunnlaug + praised her much for her goodliness; and Gunnlaug sang:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “He who brand of battle + Beareth over-wary, + Never love shall let him + Hold the linen-folded; + For we when we were younger + In many a way were playing + On the outward nesses + From golden land outstanding.” + </pre> + <p> + “Well sung!” said Hallfred. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. Of Gunnlaug’s landing, and how he found Helga wedded to + Raven. + </h2> + <p> + They made land north by Fox-Plain, in Hraunhaven, half a month before + winter, and there unshipped their goods. Now there was a man called Thord, + a bonder’s son of the Plain, there. He fell to wrestling with the chapmen, + and they mostly got worsted at his hands. + </p> + <p> + Then a wrestling was settled between him and Gunnlaug. The night before + Thord made vows to Thor for the victory; but the next day, when they met, + they fell-to wrestling. Then Gunnlaug tripped both feet from under Thord, + and gave him a. great fall; but the foot that Gunnlaug stood on was put + out of joint, and Gunnlaug fell together with Thord. + </p> + <p> + Then said Thord, “Maybe that other things go no better for thee.” + </p> + <p> + “What then?” says Gunnlaug. + </p> + <p> + “Thy dealings with Raven, if he wed Helga the Fair at winter-nights. I was + anigh at the Thing when that was settled last summer.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug answered naught thereto. + </p> + <p> + Now the foot was swathed, and put into joint again, and it swelled + mightily; but he and Hallfred ride twelve in company till they come to + Gilsbank, in Burg-firth, the very Saturday night when folk sat at the + wedding at Burg. Illugi was fain of his son Gunnlaug and his fellows; but + Gunnlaug said he would ride then and there down to Burg. Illugi said it + was not wise to do so, and to all but Gunnlaug that seemed good. But + Gunnlaug was then unfit to walk, because of his foot, though he would not + let that be seen. Therefore there was no faring to Burg. + </p> + <p> + On the morrow Hallfred rode to Hreda-water, in North-water dale, where + Galti, his brother and a brisk man, managed their matters. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. Of the Winter-Wedding at Skaney, and how Gunnlaug gave the + Kings Cloak to Helga. + </h2> + <p> + Tells the tale of Raven, that he sat at his weddings-feast at Burg, and it + was the talk of most men that the bride was but drooping; for true is the + saw that saith, “Long we remember what youth gained us,” and even so it + was with her now. + </p> + <p> + But this new thing befell at the feast, that Hungerd, the daughter of + Thorod and Jofrid, was wooed by a man named Sverting, the son of + Hafr-Biorn, the son of Mold-Gnup, and the wedding was to come off that + winter after Yule, at Skaney, where dwelt Thorkel, a kinsman of Hungerd, + and son of Torn Valbrandsson; and the mother of Torn was Thorodda, the + sister of Odd of the Tongue. + </p> + <p> + Now Raven went home to Mossfell with Helga his wife. When they had been + there a little while, one morning early before they rose up, Helga was + awake, but Raven slept, and fared ill in his sleep. And when he woke Helga + asked him what he had dreamt. Then Raven sang:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “In thine arms, so dreamed I, + Hewn was I, gold island! + Bride, in blood I bled there, + Bed of thine was reddened. + Never more then mightst thou, + Mead-bowl’spourer speedy, + Bind my gashes bloody— + Lind-leek-bough thou likst it.” + </pre> + <p> + Helga spake: “Never shall I weep therefor,” quoth she; “ye have evilly + beguiled me, and Gunnlaug has surely come out.” And therewith she wept + much. + </p> + <p> + But, a little after, Gunnlaug’s coming was bruited about, and Helga became + so hard with Raven, that he could not keep her at home at Mossfell; so + that back they had to go to Burg, and Raven got small share of her + company. + </p> + <p> + Now men get ready for the winter-wedding. Thorkel of Skaney bade Illugi + the Black and his sons. But when master Illugi got ready, Gunnlaug sat in + the hall, and stirred not to go. Illugi went up to him and said, “Why dost + thou not get ready, kinsman?” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug answered, “I have no mind to go.” + </p> + <p> + Says Illugi, “Nay, but certes thou shalt go, kinsman,” says he; “and cast + thou not grief over thee by yearning for one woman. Make as if thou + knewest nought of it, for women thou wilt never lack.” + </p> + <p> + Now Gunnlaug did as his father bade him; so they came to the wedding, and + Illugi and his sons were set down in the high seat; but Thorstein Egilson, + and Raven his son-in-law, and the bridegroom’s following, were set in the + other high seat, over against Illugi. + </p> + <p> + The women sat on the dais, and Helga the Fair sat next to the bride. Oft + she turned her eyes on Gunnlaug, thereby proving the saw, “Eyes will + bewray if maid love man.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug was well arrayed, and had on him that goodly raiment that King + Sigtrygg had given him; and now he was thought far above all other men, + because of many things, both strength, and goodliness, and growth. + </p> + <p> + There was little mirth among folk at this wedding. But on the day when all + men were making ready to go away the women stood up and got ready to go + home. Then went Gunnlaug to talk to Helga, and long they talked together: + but Gunnlaug sang:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Light-heart lived the Worm-tongue + All day long no longer + In mountain-home, since Helga + Had name of wife of Raven; + Nought foresaw thy father, + Hardener white of fight-thaw, + What my words should come to. + —The maid to gold was wedded.” + </pre> + <p> + And again he sang:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Worst reward I owe them, + Father thine, O wine-may, + And mother, that they made thee + So fair beneath thy maid-gear; + For thou, sweet field of sea-flame, + All joy hast slain within me.— + Lo, here, take it, loveliest + E’er made of lord and lady!” + </pre> + <p> + And therewith Gunnlaug gave Helga the cloak, Ethelred’s-gift, which was + the fairest of things, and she thanked him well for the gift. + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug went out, and by that time riding-horses had been brought + home and saddled, and among them were many very good ones; and they were + all tied up in the road. Gunnlaug leaps on to a horse, and rides a + hand-gallop along the homefield up to a place where Raven happened to + stand just before him; and Raven had to draw out of his way. Then Gunnlaug + said,— + </p> + <p> + “No need to slink aback, Raven, for I threaten thee nought as at this + time; but thou knowest forsooth, what thou hast earned.”. + </p> + <p> + Raven answered and sang,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “God of wound-flamed glitter, + Glorier of fight-goddess, + Must we fall a-fighting + For fairest kirtle-bearer? + Death-staffs many such-like + Fair as she is are there + In south-lands o’er the sea floods. + Sooth saith he who knoweth.” + </pre> + <p> + “Maybe there are many such, but they do not seem so to me,” said Gunnlaug. + </p> + <p> + Therewith Illugi and Thorstein ran up to them, and would not have them + fight. + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug sang,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “The fair-hued golden goddess + For gold to Raven sold they, + (Raven my match as men say) + While the mighty isle-king, + Ethelred, in England + From eastward way delayed me, + Wherefore to gold-waster + Waneth tongue’s speech-hunger.” + </pre> + <p> + Hereafter both rode home, and all was quiet and tidingless that winter + through; but Raven had nought of Helga’s fellowship after her meeting with + Gunnlaug. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. Of the Holmgang at the Althing. + </h2> + <p> + Now in summer men ride a very many to the Althing: Illugi the Black and + his sons with him, Gunnlaug and Hermund; Thorstein Egilson and Kolsvein + his son; Onund, of Mossfell, and his sons all, and Sverting, Hafr-Biorn’s + son. Skapti yet held the spokesmanship-at-law. + </p> + <p> + One day at the Thing, as men went thronging to the Hill of Laws, and when + the matters of the law were done there, then Gunnlaug craved silence, and + said:— + </p> + <p> + “Is Raven, the son of Onund, here?” + </p> + <p> + He said he was. + </p> + <p> + Then spake Gunnlaug, “Thou well knowest that thou hast got to wife my + avowed bride, and thus hast thou made thyself my foe. Now for this I bid + thee to holm here at the Thing, in the holm of the Axe-water, when three + nights are gone by.” + </p> + <p> + Raven answers, “This is well bidden, as was to be looked for of thee, and + for this I am ready, whenever thou wiliest it.” + </p> + <p> + Now the kin of each deemed this a very ill thing. But, at that time it was + lawful for him who thought himself wronged by another to call him to fight + on the holm. + </p> + <p> + So when three nights had gone by they got ready for the holmgang, and + Illugi the Black followed his son thither with a great following. But + Skapti, the lawman, followed Raven, and his father and other kinsmen of + his. + </p> + <p> + Now before Gunnlaug went upon the holm he sang,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Out to isle ofeel-field + Dight am I to hie me: + Give, O God, thy singer + With glaive to end the striving. + Here shall I the head cleave + Of Helga’s love’s devourer, + At last my bright sword bringeth + Sundering of head and body.” + </pre> + <p> + Then Raven answered and sang,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Thou, singer, knowest not surely + Which of us twain shall gain it; + With edge for leg-swathe eager, + Here are the wound-scythes bare now. + In whatso-wise we wound us, + The tidings from the Thing here, + And fame of thanes’ fair doings, + The fair young maid shall hear it.” + </pre> + <p> + Hermund held shield for his brother, Gunnlaug; but Sverting, Hafr-Biorn’s + son, was Raven’s shield-bearer. Whoso should be wounded was to ransom + himself from the holm with three marks of silver. + </p> + <p> + Now, Raven’s part it was to deal the first blow, as he was the challenged + man. He hewed at the upper part of Gunnlaug’s shield, and the sword brake + asunder just beneath the hilt, with so great might he smote; but the point + of the sword flew up from the shield and struck Gunnlaug’s cheek, whereby + he got just grazed; with that their fathers ran in between them, and many + other men. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said Gunnlaug, “I call Raven overcome, as he is weaponless.” + </p> + <p> + “But I say that thou art vanquished, since thou art wounded,” said Raven. + </p> + <p> + Now, Gunnlaug was nigh mad, and very wrathful, and said it was not tried + out yet. + </p> + <p> + Illugi, his father, said they should try no more for that time. + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug said, “Beyond all things I desire that I might in such wise meet + Raven again, that thou, father, wert not anigh to part us.” + </p> + <p> + And thereat they parted for that time, and all men went back to their + booths. + </p> + <p> + But on the second day after this it was made law in the law-court that, + henceforth, all holmgangs should be forbidden; and this was done by the + counsel of all the wisest men that were at the Thing; and there, indeed, + were all the men of most counsel in all the land. And this was the last + holmgang fought in Iceland, this, wherein Gunnlaug and Raven fought. + </p> + <p> + But this Thing was the third most thronged Thing that has been held in + Iceland; the first was after Njal’s burning, the second after the + Heath-slaughters. + </p> + <p> + Now, one morning, as the brothers Hermund and Gunnlaug went to Axe-water + to wash, on the other side went many women towards the river, and in that + company was Helga the Fair. Then said Hermund,— + </p> + <p> + “Dost thou see thy friend Helga there on the other side of the river?” + </p> + <p> + “Surely, I see her,” says Gunnlaug, and withal he sang:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Born was she for men’s bickering: + Sore bale hath wrought the war-stemy + And I yearned ever madly + To hold that oak-tree golden. + To me then, me destroyer + Of swan-mead’s flame, unneedful + This looking on the dark-eyed, + This golden land’s beholding.” + </pre> + <p> + Therewith they crossed the river, and Helga and Gunnlaug spake awhile + together, and as the brothers crossed the river eastward back again, Helga + stood and gazed long after Gunnlaug. + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug looked back and sang:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Moon of linen-lapped one, + Leek-sea-bearing goddess, + Hawk-keen out of heaven + Shone all bright upon me; + But that eyelid’s moonbeam + Of gold-necklaced goddess + Her hath all undoing + Wrought, and me made nought of.” + </pre> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. How Gunnlaug and Raven agreed to go East to Norway, to try the + matter again. + </h2> + <p> + Now after these things were gone by men rode home from the Thing, and + Gunnlaug dwelt at home at Gilsbank. + </p> + <p> + On a morning when he awoke all men had risen up, but he alone still lay + abed; he lay in a shut-bed behind the seats. Now into the hall came twelve + men, all full armed, and who should be there but Raven, Onund’s son; + Gunnlaug sprang up forthwith, and got to his weapons. + </p> + <p> + But Raven spake, “Thou art in risk of no hurt this time,” quoth he, “but + my errand hither is what thou shalt now hear: Thou didst call me to a + holmgang last summer at the Althing, and thou didst not deem matters to be + fairly tried therein; now I will offer thee this, that we both fare away + from Iceland, and go abroad next summer, and go on holm in Norway, for + there our kinsmen are not like to stand in our way.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug answered, “Hail to thy words, stoutest of men! this thine offer I + take gladly; and here, Raven, mayest thou have cheer as good as thou + mayest desire.” + </p> + <p> + “It is well offered,” said Raven, “but this time we shall first have to + ride away.” Thereon they parted. + </p> + <p> + Now the kinsmen of both sore misliked them of this, but could in no wise + undo it, because of the wrath of Gunnlaug and Raven; and, after all, that + must betide that drew towards. + </p> + <p> + Now it is to be said of Raven that he fitted out his ship in Leiruvag; two + men are named that went with him, sisters’ sons of his father Onund, one + hight Grim, the other Olaf, doughty men both. All the kinsmen of Raven + thought it great scathe when he went away, but he said he had challenged + Gunnlaug to the holmgang because he could have no joy soever of Helga; and + he said, withal, that one must fall before the other. + </p> + <p> + So Raven put to sea, when he had wind at will, and brought his ship to + Thrandheim, and was there that winter and heard nought of Gunnlaug that + winter through; there lie abode him the summer following: and still + another winter was he in Thrandheim, at a place called Lifangr. + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug Worm-tongue took ship with Hallfred Troublous-Skald, in the north + at The Plain; they were very late ready for sea. + </p> + <p> + They sailed into the main when they had a fair wind, and made Orkney a + little before the winter. Earl Sigurd Lodverson was still lord over the + isles, and Gunnlaug went to him and abode there that winter, and the earl + held him of much account. + </p> + <p> + In the spring the earl would go on warfare, and Gunnlaug made ready to go + with him; and that summer they harried wide about the South-isles and + Scotland’s firths, and had many fights, and Gunnlaug always showed himself + the bravest and doughtiest of fellows, and the hardiest of men wherever + they came. + </p> + <p> + Earl Sigurd went back home early in the summer, but Gunnlaug took ship + with chapmen, sailing for Norway, and he and Earl Sigurd parted in great + friendship. + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug fared north to Thrandheim, to Hladir, to see Earl Eric, and dwelt + there through the early winter; the earl welcomed him gladly, and made + offer to Gunnlaug to stay with him, and Gunnlaug agreed thereto. + </p> + <p> + The earl had heard already how all had befallen between Gunnlaug and + Raven, and he told Gunnlaug that he laid ban on their fighting within his + realm; Gunnlaug said the earl should be free to have his will herein. + </p> + <p> + So Gunnlaug abode there the winter through, ever heavy of mood. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. How the two Foes met and fought at Dingness. + </h2> + <p> + But on a day in spring Gunnlaug was walking abroad, and his kinsman + Thorkel with him; they walked away from the town, till on the meads. + before them they saw a ring of men, and in that ring were two men with + weapons fencing; but one was named Raven, the other Gunnlaug, while they + who stood by said that Icelanders smote light, and were slow to remember + their words. + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug saw the great mocking hereunder, and much jeering was brought + into the play; and withal he went away silent. + </p> + <p> + So a little while after he said to the earl that he had no mind to bear + any longer the jeers and mocks of his courtiers about his dealings with + Raven, and therewith he prayed the earl to give him a guide to Lifangr: + now before this the earl had been told that Raven had left Lifangr and + gone east to Sweden; therefore, he granted Gunnlaug leave to go, and gave + him two guides for the journey. + </p> + <p> + Now Gunnlaug went from Hladir with six men to Lifangr; and, on the morning + of the very day whereas Gunnlaug came in in the evening, Raven had left + Lifangr with four men. Thence Gunnlaug went to Vera-dale, and came always + in the evening to where Raven had been the night before. + </p> + <p> + So Gunnlaug went on till he came to the uppermost farm in the valley, + called Sula, wherefrom had Raven fared in the morning; there he stayed not + his journey, but kept on his way through the night. + </p> + <p> + Then in the morning at sun-rise they saw one another. Raven had got to a + place where were two waters, and between them flat meads, and they are + called Gleipni’s meads: but into one water stretched a little ness called + Dingness. There on the ness Raven and his fellows, five together, took + their stand. With Raven were his kinsmen, Grim and Olaf. + </p> + <p> + Now when they met, Gunnlaug said, “It is well that we have found one + another.” + </p> + <p> + Raven said that he had nought to quarrel with therein; + </p> + <p> + “But now,” says he, “thou mayest choose as thou wilt, either that we fight + alone together, or that we fight all of us man to man.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug said that either way seemed good to him. + </p> + <p> + Then spake Raven’s kinsmen, Grim and Olaf, and said that they would little + like to stand by and look on the fight, and in like wise spake Thorkel the + Black, the kinsman of Gunnlaug. + </p> + <p> + Then said Gunnlaug to the earl’s guides, “Ye shall sit by and aid neither + side, and be here to tell of our meeting;” and so they did. + </p> + <p> + So they set on, and fought dauntlessly, all of them. Grim and Olaf went + both against Gunnlaug alone, and so closed their dealings with him that + Gunnlaug slew them both and got no wound. This proves Thord Kolbeinson in + a song that he made on Gunnlaug the Wormtongue:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Grim and Olaf great-hearts + In Gondul’s din, with thin sword + First did Gunnlaug fell there + Ere at Raven fared he; + Bold, with blood be-drifted + Bane of three the thane was; + War-lord of the wave-horse + Wrought for men folks’ slaughter.” + </pre> + <p> + Meanwhile Raven and Thorkel the Black, Gunnlaug’s kinsman, fought until + Thorkel fell before Raven and lost his life; and so at last all their + fellowship fell. Then they two alone fought together with fierce onsets + and mighty strokes, which they dealt each the other, falling on furiously + without stop or stay. + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug had the sword Ethelred’s-gift, and that was the best of weapons. + At last Gunnlaug dealt a mighty blow at Raven, and cut his leg from under + him; but none the more did Raven fall, but swung round up to a tree-stem, + whereat he steadied the stump. + </p> + <p> + Then said Gunnlaug, “Now thou art no more meet for battle, nor will I + fight with thee any longer, a maimed man.” + </p> + <p> + Raven answered: “So it is,” said he, “that my lot is now all the worser + lot, but it were well with me yet, might I but drink somewhat.” + </p> + <p> + Gunnlaug said, “Bewray me not if I bring thee water in my helm.” + </p> + <p> + “I will not bewray thee,” said Raven. Then went Gunnlaug to a brook and + fetched water in his helm, and brought it to Raven; but Raven stretched + forth his left hand to take it, but with his right hand drave his sword + into Gunnlaug’s head, and that was a mighty great wound. + </p> + <p> + Then Gunnlaug said, “Evilly hast thou beguiled me, and done traitorously + wherein I trusted thee.” + </p> + <p> + Raven answers, “Thou sayest sooth, but this brought me to it, that I + begrudged thee to lie in the bosom of Helga the Fair.” + </p> + <p> + Thereat they fought on, recking of nought; but the end of it was that + Gunnlaug overcame Raven, and there Raven lost his life.. + </p> + <p> + Then the earl’s guides came forward and bound the head-wound of Gunnlaug, + and in meanwhile, he sat and sang:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “O thou sword-storm stirrer, + Raven, stem of battle + Famous, fared against me + Fiercely in the spear din. + Many a flight of metal + Was borne on me this morning, + By the spear-walls’ builder, + Ring-bearer, on hard Dingness.” + </pre> + <p> + After that they buried the dead, and got Gunnlaug on to his horse + thereafter, and brought him right down to Lifangr. There he lay three + nights, and got all his rights of a priest, and died thereafter, and was + buried at the church there. + </p> + <p> + All men thought it great scathe of both of these men, Gunnlaug and Raven, + amid such deeds as they died. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII. The News of the Fight brought to Iceland. + </h2> + <p> + Now this summer, before these tidings were brought out hither to Iceland, + Illugi the Black, being at home at Gilsbank, dreamed a dream: he thought + that Gunnlaug came to him in his sleep, all bloody, and he sang in the + dream this stave before him; and Illugi remembered the song when he woke, + and sang it before others:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Knew I of the hewing + Of Raven’s hilt-finned steel-fish + Byrny-shearing—sword-edge + Sharp clave leg of Raven.— + Of warm wounds drank the eagle, + When the war-rod slender, + Cleaver of the corpses, + Clave the head of Gunnlaug.” + </pre> + <p> + This portent befel south at Mossfell, the self-same night, that Onund + dreamed how Raven came to him, covered all over with blood, and sang:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Red is the sword, but I now + Am undone by Sword-Odin. + ‘Gainst shields beyond the sea-flood + The ruin of shields was wielded. + Methinks the blood-fowl blood-stained + In blood o’er men’s heads stood there, + The wound-erne yet wound-eager + Trod over wounded bodies?” + </pre> + <p> + Now the second summer after this, Illugi the Black spoke at the Althing + from the Hill of Laws, and said:— + </p> + <p> + “Wherewith wilt thou make atonement to me for my son, whom Raven, thy son, + beguiled in his troth?” + </p> + <p> + Onund answers, “Be it far from me to atone for him, so sorely as their + meeting hath wounded me. Yet will I not ask atonement of thee for my son.” + </p> + <p> + “Then shall my wrath come home to some of thy kin,” says Illugi. And + withal after the Thing was Illugi at most times very sad. + </p> + <p> + Tells the tale how this autumn Illugi rode from Gilsbank with thirty men, + and came to Mossfell early in the morning. Then Onund got into the church + with his sons, and took sanctuary; but Illugi caught two of his kin, one + called Biorn and the other Thorgrim, and had Biorn slain, but the feet + smitten from Thorgrim. And thereafter Illugi rode home, and there was no + righting of this for Onund. + </p> + <p> + Hermund, Illugi’s son, had little joy after the death of Gunnlaug his + brother, and deemed he was none the more avenged even though this had been + wrought. + </p> + <p> + Now there was a man called Raven, brother’s son to Onund of Mossfell; he + was a great sea-farer, and had a ship that lay up in Ramfirth: and in the + spring Hermund Illugison rode from home alone north over Holt-beacon + Heath, even to Ramfirth, and out as far as Board-ere to the ship of the + chapmen. The chapmen were then nearly ready for sea; Raven, the + ship-master, was on shore, and many men with him; Hermund rode up to him, + and thrust him through with his spear, and rode away forthwith: but all + Raven’s men were bewildered at seeing Hermund. + </p> + <p> + No atonement came for this slaying, and therewith ended the dealings of + Illugi the Black and Onund of Mossfell. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. The Death of Helga the Fair. + </h2> + <p> + AS time went on, Thorstein Egilson married his daughter Helga to a man + called Thorkel, son of Hallkel, who lived west in Hraundale. Helga went to + his house with him, but loved him little, for she cannot cease to think of + Gunnlaug, though he be dead. Yet was Thorkel a doughty man, and wealthy of + goods, and a good skald. + </p> + <p> + They had children together not a few, one of them was called Thorarin, + another Thorstein, and yet more they had. + </p> + <p> + But Helga’s chief joy was to pluck at the threads of that cloak, + Gunnlaug’s gift, and she would be ever gazing at it. + </p> + <p> + But on a time there came a great sickness to the house of Thorkel and + Helga, and many were bed-ridden for a long time. Helga also fell sick, and + yet she could not keep abed. + </p> + <p> + So one Saturday evening Helga sat in the fire-hall, and leaned her head + upon her husband’s knees, and had the cloak Gunnlaug’s gift sent for; and + when the cloak came to her she sat up and plucked at it, and gazed thereon + awhile, and then sank back upon her husband’s bosom, and was dead. Then + Thorkel sang this:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Dead in mine arms she droopeth, + My dear one, gold-rings bearer, + For God hath changed the life-days + Of this Lady of the linen. + Weary pain hath pined her, + But unto me, the seeker + Of hoard of fishes highway, + Abiding here is wearier.” + </pre> + <p> + Helga was buried in the church there, but Thorkel dwelt yet at Hraundale: + but a great matter seemed the death of Helga to all, as was to be looked + for. + </p> + <p> + AND HERE ENDETH THE STORY. <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue +And Raven The Skald, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF GUNNLAUG *** + +***** This file should be named 24421-h.htm or 24421-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/4/2/24421/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue And Raven The Skald + 1875 + +Author: Anonymous + +Translator: Eirikr Magnusson And William Morris + +Release Date: January 25, 2008 [EBook #24421] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF GUNNLAUG *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE STORY OF GUNNLAUG THE WORM-TONGUE AND RAVEN THE SKALD. + +Translated From The Icelandic By Eirikr Magnusson And William Morris + +1875 + +[Transcriber's Note: Thought to be written in the 13th Century] + +_EVEN AS ARI THORGILSON THE LEARNED, THE PRIEST, HATH TOLD IT, WHO WAS +THE MAN OF ALL ICELAND MOST LEARNED IN TALES OF THE LAND'S INHABITING +AND IN LORE OF TIME AGONE_. + + + + +CHAPTER I. Of Thorstein Egilson and his Kin. + +There was a man called Thorstein, the son of Egil, the son of +Skallagrim, the son of Kveldulf the Hersir of Norway. Asgerd was the +mother of Thorstein; she was the daughter of Biorn Hold. Thorstein dwelt +at Burg in Burg-firth; he was rich of fee, and a great chief, a wise +man, meek and of measure in all wise. He was nought of such wondrous +growth and strength as his father Egil had been; yet was he a right +mighty man, and much beloved of all folk. + +Thorstein was goodly to look on, flaxen-haired, and the best-eyed of +men; and so say men of lore that many of the kin of the Mere-men, who +are come of Egil, have been the goodliest folk; yet, for all that, this +kindred have differed much herein, for it is said that some of them have +been accounted the most ill-favoured of men: but in that kin have been +also many men of great prowess in many wise, such as Kiartan, the son of +Olaf Peacock, and Slaying-Bardi, and Skuli, the son of Thorstein. Some +have been great bards, too, in that kin, as Biorn, the champion of +Hit-dale, priest Einar Skulison, Snorri Sturluson, and many others. + +Now, Thorstein had to wife Jofrid, the daughter of Gunnar, the son of +Hlifar. This Gunnar was the best skilled in weapons, and the lithest of +limb of all bonderfolk who have been in Iceland; the second was Gunnar +of Lithend; but Steinthor of Ere was the third. Jofrid was eighteen +winters old when Thorstein wedded her; she was a widow, for Thorodd, +son of Odd of Tongue, had had her to wife aforetime. Their daughter was +Hungerd, who was brought up at Thorstein's at Burg. Jofrid was a very +stirring woman; she and Thorstein had many children betwixt them, but +few of them come into this tale. Skuli was the eldest of their sons, +Kollsvein the second, Egil the third. + + + + +CHAPTER II. Of Thorsteins Dream. + +One summer, it is said, a ship came from over the main into Gufaros. +Bergfinn was he hight who was the master thereof, a Northman of kin, +rich in goods, and somewhat stricken in years, and a wise man he was +withal. + +Now, goodman Thorstein rode to the ship, as it was his wont mostly +to rule the market, and this he did now. The Eastmen got housed, but +Thorstein took the master to himself, for thither he prayed to go. +Bergfinn was of few words throughout the winter, but Thorstein treated +him well The Eastman had great joy of dreams. + +One day in spring-tide Thorstein asked Bergfinn if he would ride with +him up to Hawkfell, where at that time was the Thing-stead of the +Burg-firthers; for Thorstein had been told that the walls of his booth +had fallen in. The Eastman said he had good will to go, so that day they +rode, some three together, from home, and the house-carles of Thorstein +withal, till they came up under Hawkfell to a farmstead called Foxholes. +There dwelt a man of small wealth called Atli, who was Thorstein's +tenant Thorstein bade him come and work with them, and bring with him +hoe and spade. This he did, and when they came to the tofts of the +booth, they set to work all of them, and did out the walls. + +The weather was hot with sunshine that day, and Thorstein and the +Eastman grew heavy; and when they had moved out the walls, those two sat +down within the tofts, and Thorstein slept, and fared ill in his sleep. +The Eastman sat beside him, and let him have his dream fully out, and +when he awoke he was much wearied. Then the Eastman asked him what he +had dreamt, as he had had such an ill time of it in his sleep. + +Thorstein said, "Nay, dreams betoken nought." + +But as they rode homeward in the evening, the Eastman asked him again +what he had dreamt. + +Thorstein said, "If I tell thee the dream, then shalt thou unriddle it +to me, as it verily is." + +The Eastman said he would risk it. + +Then Thorstein said: "This was my dream; for methought I was at home +at Burg, standing outside the men's-door, and I looked up at the +house-roof, and on the ridge I saw a swan, goodly and fair, and I +thought it was mine own, and deemed it good beyond all things. Then I +saw a great eagle sweep down from the mountains, and fly thitherward and +alight beside the swan, and chuckle over her lovingly; and methouht +the swan seemed well content thereat; but I noted that the eagle was +black-eyed, and that on him were iron claws: valiant he seemed to me. + +"After this I thought I saw another fowl come flying from the south +quarter, and he, too, came hither to Burg, and sat down on the house +beside the swan, and would fain be fond with her. This also was a mighty +eagle. + +"But soon I thought that the eagle first-come ruffled up at the coming +of the other. Then they fought fiercely and long, and this I saw that +both bled, and such was the end of their play, that each tumbled either +way down from the house-roof, and there they lay both dead. + +"But the swan sat left alone, drooping much, and sad of semblance. + +"Then I saw a fowl fly from the west; that was a falcon, and he sat +beside the swan and made fondly towards her, and they flew away both +together into one and the same quarter, and therewith I awoke. + +"But a dream of no mark this is," he says, "and will in all likelihood +betoken gales, that they shall meet in the air from those quarters +whence I deemed the fowl flew." + +The Eastman spake: "I deem it nowise such," saith he. + +Thorstein said, "Make of the dream, then, what seemeth likest to thee, +and let me hear." + +Then said the Eastman: "These birds are like to be fetches of men: but +thy wife sickens now, and she will give birth to a woman-child fair and +lovely; and dearly thou wilt love her; but high-born men shall woo thy +daughter, coming from such quarters as the eagles seemed to fly from, +and shall love her with overweening love, and shall fight about her, +and both lose their lives thereby. And thereafter a third man, from the +quarter whence came the falcon, shall woo her, and to that man shall +she be wedded. Now, I have unravelled thy dream, and I think things will +befall as I have said." + +Thorstein answered: "In evil and unfriendly wise is the dream +interpreted, nor do I deem thee fit for the work of unriddling dreams." + +Then Eastman said, "Thou shalt find how it will come to pass." + +But Thorstein estranged himself from the Eastman thenceforward, and he +left that summer, and now he is out of the tale. + + + + +CHAPTER III. Of the Birth and Fostering of Helga the Fair. + +This summer Thorstein got ready to ride to the Thing, and spake to +Jofrid his wife before he went from home. "So is it," he says, "that +thou art with child now, but thy child shall be cast forth if thou bear +a woman; but nourished if it be a man." + +Now, at this time when all the land was heathen, it was somewhat the +wont of such men as had little wealth, and were like to have many young +children on their hands, to have them cast forth, but an evil deed it +was always deemed to be. + +And now, when Thorstein had said this, Jofrid answers, "This is a word +all unlike thee, such a man as thou art, and surely to a wealthy man +like thee it will not seem good that this should be done." + +Thorstein answered: "Thou knowest my mind, and that no good will hap if +my will be thwarted." + +So he rode to the Thing; but while he was gone Jofrid gave birth to a +woman-child wondrous fair. The women would fain show her to the mother; +she said there was little need thereof, but had her shepherd Thorvard +called to her, and spake to him:-- + +"Thou shalt take my horse and saddle it, and bring this child west +to Herdholt, to Thorgerd, Egil's daughter, and pray her to nourish it +secretly, so that Thorstein may not know thereof. For with such looks of +love do I behold this child, that surely I cannot bear to have it cast +forth. Here are three marks of silver, have them in reward of thy work; +but west there Thorgerd will get thee fare and food over the sea." + +Then Thorvard did her bidding; he rode with the child to Herdholt, and +gave it into Thorgerd's hands, and she had it nourished at a tenant's of +hers who dwelt at Freedmans-stead up in Hvamfirth; but she got fare for +Thorvard north in Steingrims-firth, in Shell-creek, and gave him meet +outfit for his sea-faring: he went thence abroad, and is now out of the +story. + +Now when Thorstein came home from the Thing, Jofrid told him that the +child had been cast forth according to his word, but that the herdsman +had fled away and stolen her horse. Thorstein said she had done well, +and got himself another herdsman. So six winters passed, and this matter +was nowise wotted of. + +Now in those days Thorstein rode to Herdholt, being bidden there as +guest of his brother-in-law, Olaf Peacock, the son of Hoskuld, who was +then deemed to be the chief highest of worth among all men west there. +Good cheer was made Thorstein, as was like to be; and one day at the +feast it is said that Thorgerd sat in the high seat talking with her +brother Thorstein, while Olaf was talking to other men; but on the bench +right over against them sat three little maidens. Then said Thorgerd,-- + +"How dost thou, brother, like the look of these three little maidens +sitting straight before us?" + +"Right well," he answers, "but one is by far the fairest; she has all +the goodliness of Olaf, but the whiteness and the countenance of us, the +Mere-men." + +Thorgerd answered: "Surely this is true, brother, wherein thou sayest +that she has the fairness and countenance of us Mere-folk, but +the goodliness of Olaf Peacock she has not got, for she is not his +daughter." + +"How can that be," says Thorstein, "being thy daughter none the less?" + +She answered: "To say sooth, kinsman," quoth she, "this fair maiden is +not my daughter, but thine." + +And therewith she told him all as it had befallen, and prayed him to +forgive her and his own wife that trespass. + +Thorstein said: "I cannot blame you two for having done this; most +things will fall as they are fated, and well have ye covered over my +folly: so look I on this maiden that I deem it great good luck to have +so fair a child. But now, what is her name?" + +"Helga she is called," says Thorgerd. + +"Helga the Fair," says Thorstein. "But now shalt thou make her ready to +come home with me." + +She did so, and Thorstein was led out with good gifts, and Helga rode +with him to his home, and was brought up there with much honour and +great love from father and mother and all her kin. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. Of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue and his Kin. + +Now at this time there dwelt at Gilsbank, up in White-water-side, Illugi +the Black, son of Hallkel, the son of Hrosskel. The mother of Illugi was +Thurid Dandle, daughter of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue. + +Illugi was the next greatest chief in Burg-firth after Thorstein +Egilson. He was a man of broad lands and hardy of mood, and wont to do +well to his friends; he had to wife Ingibiorg, the daughter of Asbiorn +Hordson, from Ornolfsdale; the mother of Ingibiorg was Thorgerd, the +daughter of Midfirth-Skeggi. The children of Illugi and Ingibiorg were +many, but few of them have to do with this story. Hermund was one of +their sons, and Gunnlaug another; both were hopeful men, and at this +time of ripe growth. + +It is told of Gunnlaug that he was quick of growth in his early youth, +big, and strong; his hair was light red, and very goodly of fashion; he +was dark-eyed, somewhat ugly-nosed, yet of lovesome countenance; thin +of flank he was, and broad of shoulder, and the best-wrought of men; his +whole mind was very masterful; eager was he from his youth up, and in +all wise unsparing and hardy; he was a great skald, but somewhat bitter +in his rhyming, and therefore was he called Gunnlaug Worm-tongue. + +Hermund was the best beloved of the two brothers, and had the mien of a +great man. + +When Gunnlaug was fifteen winters old he prayed his father for goods to +fare abroad withal, and said he had will to travel and see the manners +of other folk. Master Illugi was slow to take the matter up, and said he +was unlike to be deemed good in the out-lands "when I can scarcely shape +thee to my own liking at home." + +On a morning but a very little afterwards it happened that Illugi came +out early, and saw that his storehouse was opened, and that some +sacks of wares, six of them, had been brought out into the road, and +therewithal too some pack-gear. Now, as he wondered at this, there came +up a man leading four horses, and who should it be but his son Gunnlaug. +Then said he:-- + +"I it was who brought out the sacks." + +Illugi asked him why he had done so. He said that they should make his +faring goods. + +Illugi said: "In nowise shalt thou thwart my will, nor fare anywhere +sooner than I like!" and in again he swung the ware-sacks therewith. + +Then Gunnlaug rode thence and came in the evening down to Burg, and +goodman Thorstein asked him to bide there, and Gunnlaug was fain of +that proffer. He told Thorstein how things had gone betwixt him and his +father, and Thorstein offered to let him bide there as long as he liked, +and for some seasons Gunnlaug abode there, and learned law-craft of +Thorstein, and all men accounted well of him. + +Now Gunnlaug and Helga would be always at the chess-playing together, +and very soon each found favour with the other, as came to be proven +well enough afterwards: they were very nigh of an age. + +Helga was so fair, that men of lore say that she was the fairest woman +of Iceland, then or since; her hair was so plenteous and long that it +could cover her all over, and it was as fair as a band of gold; nor was +there any so good to choose as Helga the Fair in all Burgfirth, and far +and wide elsewhere. + +Now one day, as men sat in the hall at Burg, Gunnlaug spake to +Thorstein: "One thing in law there is which thou hast not taught me, and +that is how to woo me a wife." + +Thorstein said, "That is but a small matter," and therewith taught him +how to go about it. + +Then said Gunnlaug, "Now shalt thou try if I have understood all: I +shall take thee by the hand and make as if I were wooing thy daughter +Helga." + +"I see no need of that," says Thorstein. Gunnlaug, however, groped +then and there after his hand, and seizing it said, "Nay, grant me this +though." + +"Do as thou wilt, then," said Thorstein; "but be it known to all who +are hereby that this shall be as if it had been unspoken, nor shall any +guile follow herein." + +Then Gunnlaug named for himself witnesses, and betrothed Helga to him, +and asked thereafter if it would stand good thus. Thorstein said that it +was well; and those who were present were mightily pleased at all this. + + + + +CHAPTER V. Of Raven and his Kin. + +There was a man called Onund, who dwelt in the south at Mossfell: he +was the wealthiest of men, and had a priesthood south there about the +nesses. He was married, and his wife was called Geirny. She was the +daughter of Gnup, son of Mold-Gnup, who settled at Grindwick, in the +south country. Their sons were Raven, and Thorarin, and Eindridi; they +were all hopeful men, but Raven was in all wise the first of them. He +was a big man and a strong, the sightliest of men and a good skald; +and when he was fully grown he fared between sundry lands, and was well +accounted of wherever he came. + +Thorod the Sage, the son of Eyvind, then dwelt at Hjalli, south in +Olfus, with Skapti his son, who was then the spokesman-at-law in +Iceland. The mother of Skapti was Ranveig, daughter of Gnup, the son of +Mold-Gnup; and Skapti and the sons of Onund were sisters' sons. Between +these kinsmen was much friendship as well as kinship. + +At this time Thorfin, the son of Selthorir, dwelt at Red-Mel, and +had seven sons, who were all the hopefullest of men; and of them were +these--Thorgils, Eyjolf, and Thorir; and they were all the greatest men +out there. But these men who have now been named lived all at one and +the same time. + +Next to this befell those tidings, the best that ever have befallen here +in Iceland, that the whole land became Christian, and that all folk cast +off the old faith. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. How Helga was vowed to Gunnlaug, and of Gunnlaug's +faring abroad. + +Gunnlaug Worm-Tongue was, as is aforesaid, whiles at Burg with +Thorstein, whiles with his father Illugi at Gilsbank, three winters +together, and was by now eighteen winters old; and father and son were +now much more of a mind. + +There was a man called Thorkel the Black; he was a house-carle of +Illugi, and near akin to him, and had been brought up in his house. To +him fell an heritage north at As, in Water-dale, and he prayed Gunnlaug +to go with him thither. This he did, and so they rode, the two together, +to As. There they got the fee; it was given up to them by those who had +the keeping of it, mostly because of Gunnlaug's furtherance. + +But as they rode from the north they guested at Grimstongue, at a rich +bonder's who dwelt there; but in the morning a herdsman took Gunnlaug's +horse, and it had sweated much by then he got it back. Then Gunnlaug +smote the herdsman, and stunned him; but the bonder would in nowise bear +this, and claimed boot therefor. Gunnlaug offered to pay him one mark. +The bonder thought it too little. + +Then Gunnlaug sang,-- + + "Bade I the middling mighty + To have a mark of waves' flame; + Giver of grey seas? glitter, + This gift shalt thou make shift with. + If the elf sun of the waters + From out of purse thou lettest, + O waster of the worm's bedy + Awaits thee sorrow later." + +So the peace was made as Gunnlaug bade, and in such wise the two rode +south. + +Now, a little while after, Gunnlaug asked his father a second time for +goods for going abroad. + +Illugi says, "Now shalt thou have thy will, for thou hast wrought +thyself into something better than thou wert." So Illugi rode hastily +from home, and bought for Gunnlaug half a ship which lay in Gufaros, +from Audun Festargram--this Audun was he who would not flit abroad the +sons of Oswif the Wise, after the slaying of Kiartan Olafson, as is +told in the story of the Laxdalemen, which thing though betid later than +this.--And when Illugi came home, Gunnlaug thanked him well. + +Thorkel the Black betook himself to seafaring with Gunnlaug, and their +wares were brought to the ship; but Gunnlaug was at Burg while they made +her ready, and found more cheer in talk with Helga than in toiling with +chapmen. + +Now one day Thorstein asked Gunnlaug if he would ride to his horses with +him up to Long-water-dale. Gunnlaug said he would. So they ride both +together till they come to the mountain-dairies of Thorstein, called +Thorgils-stead. There were stud-horses of Thorstein, four of them +together, all red of hue. There was one horse very goodly, but little +tried: this horse Thorstein offered to give to Gunnlaug. He said he was +in no need of horses, as he was going away from the country; and so they +ride to other stud-horses. There was a grey horse with four mares, and +he was the best of horses in Burgfirth. This one, too, Thorstein offered +to give Gunnlaug, but he said, "I desire these in no wise more than the +others; but why dost thou not bid me what I will take?" + +"What is that?" said Thorstein. + +"Helga the Fair, thy daughter," says Gunnlaug. + +"That rede is not to be settled so hastily," said Thorstein; and +therewithal got on other talk. And now they ride homewards down along +Long-water. + +Then said Gunnlaug, "I must needs know what thou wilt answer me about +the wooing." + +Thorstein answers: "I heed not thy vain talk," says he. + +Gunnlaug says, "This is my whole mind, and no vain words." + +Thorstein says, "Thou shouldst first know thine own will. Art thou not +bound to fare abroad? and yet thou makest as if thou wouldst go marry. +Neither art thou an even match for Helga while thou art so unsettled, +and therefore this cannot so much as be looked at." + +Gunnlaug says, "Where lookest thou for a match for thy daughter, if +thou wilt not give her to the son of Illugi the Black; or who are they +throughout Burg-firth who are of more note than he?" + +Thorstein answered: "I will not play at men-mating," says he, "but if +thou wert such a man as he is, thou wouldst not be turned away." + +Gunnlaug said, "To whom wilt thou give thy daughter rather than to me?" + +Said Thorstein, "Hereabout are many good men to choose from. Thorfin of +Red-Mel hath seven sons, and all of them men of good manners." + +Gunnlaug answers, "Neither Onund nor Thorfin are men as good as my +father. Nay, thou thyself clearly fallest short of him--or what hast +thou to set against his strife with Thorgrim the Priest, the son of +Kiallak, and his sons, at Thorsness Thing, where he carried all that was +in debate?" + +Thorstein answers, "I drave away Steinar, the son of Onund Sioni, which +was deemed somewhat of a deed." + +Gunnlaug says, "Therein thou wast holpen by thy father Egil; and, to end +all, it is for few bonders to cast away my alliance." + +Said Thorstein, "Carry thy cowing away to the fellows up yonder at the +mountains; for down here, on the Meres, it shall avail thee nought." + +Now in the evening they come home; but next morning Gunnlaug rode up to +Gilsbank, and prayed his father to ride with him a-wooing out to Burg. + +Illugi answered, "Thou art an unsettled man, being bound for faring +abroad, but makest now as if thou wouldst busy thyself with wife-wooing; +and so much do I know, that this is not to Thorstein's mind." + +Gunnlaug answers, "I shall go abroad all the same, nor shall I be well +pleased but if thou further this." + +So after this Illugi rode with eleven men from home down to Burg, +and Thorstein greeted him well. Early in the morning Illugi said to +Thorstein, "I would speak to thee." + +"Let us go, then, to the top of the Burg, and talk together there," says +Thorstein; and so they did, and Gunnlaug went with them. + +Then said Illugi, "My kinsman Gunnlaug tells me that he has begun a +talk with thee on his own behalf, praying that he might woo thy daughter +Helga; but now I would fain know what is like to come of this matter. +His kin is known to thee, and our possessions; from my hand shall be +spared neither land nor rule over men, if such things might perchance +further matters." + +Thorstein said, "Herein alone Gunnlaug pleases me not, that I find him +an unsettled man; but if he were of a mind like thine, little would I +hang back." + +Illugi said, "It will cut our friendship across if thou gainsayest me +and my son an equal match." + +Thorstein answers, "For thy words and our friendship then, Helga shall +be vowed, but not betrothed, to Gunnlaug, and shall bide for him three +winters: but Gunnlaug shall go abroad and shape himself to the ways of +good men; but I shall be free from all these matters if he does not then +come back, or if his ways are not to my liking." + +Thereat they parted; Illugi rode home, but Gunnlaug rode to his ship. +But when they had wind at will they sailed for the main, and made +the northern part of Norway, and sailed landward along Thrandheim to +Nidaros; there they rode in the harbour, and unshipped their goods. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. Of Gunnlaug in the East and the West. + +In those days Earl Eric, the son of Hakon, and his brother Svein, ruled +in Norway. Earl Eric abode as then at Hladir, which was left to him by +his father, and a mighty lord he was. Skuli, the son of Thorstein, was +with the earl at that time, and was one of his court, and well esteemed. + +Now they say that Gunnlaug and Audun Festargram, and seven of them +together, went up to Hladir to the earl. Gunnlaug was so clad that he +had on a grey kirtle and white long-hose; he had a boil on his foot by +the instep, and from this oozed blood and matter as he strode on. In +this guise he went before the earl with Audun and the rest of them, +and greeted him well. The earl knew Audun, and asked him tidings from +Iceland. Audun told him what there was toward. Then the earl asked +Gunnlaug who he was, and Gunnlaug told him his name and kin. Then +the earl said: "Skuli Thorstein's son, what manner of man is this in +Iceland?" + +"Lord," says he, "give him good welcome, for he is the son of the best +man in Iceland, Illugi the Black of Gilsbank, and my foster-brother +withal." + +The earl asked, "What ails thy foot, Icelander?" + +"A boil, lord," said he. + +"And yet thou wentest not halt?" + +Gunnlaug answers, "Why go halt while both legs are long alike?" + +Then said one of the earl's men, called Thorir: "He swaggereth hugely, +this Icelander! It would not be amiss to try him a little." + +Gunnlaug looked at him and sang:-- + + "A courtman there is + Full evil I wis, + A bad man and black, + Belief let him lack." + +Then would Thorir seize an axe. The earl spake: "Let it be," says he; +"to such things men should pay no heed. But now, Icelander, how old a +man art thou?" + +Gunnlaug answers: "I am eighteen winters old as now," says he. + +Then says Earl Eric, "My spell is that thou shalt not live eighteen +winters more." + +Gunnlaug said, somewhat under his breath: "Pray not against me, but for +thyself rather." + +The earl asked thereat, "What didst thou say, Icelander?" + +Gunnlaug answers, "What I thought well befitting, that thou shouldst bid +no prayers against me, but pray well for thyself rather." + +"What prayers, then?" says the earl. + +"That thou mightest not meet thy death after the manner of Earl Hakon, +thy father." + +The earl turned red as blood, and bade them take the rascal in haste; +but Skuli stepped up to the earl, and said: "Do this for my words, lord, +and give this man peace, so that he depart at his swiftest." + +The earl answered, "At his swiftest let him be off then, if he will have +peace, and never let him come again within mv realm." + +Then Skuli went out with Gunnlaug down to the bridges, where there was +an England-bound ship ready to put out; therein Skuli got for Gunnlaug +a berth, as well as for Thorkel, his kinsman; but Gunnlaug gave his ship +into Audun's ward, and so much of his goods as he did not take with him. + +Now sail Gunnlaug and his fellows into the English main, and come at +autumntide south to London Bridge, where they hauled ashore their ship. + +Now at that time King Ethelred, the son of Edgar, ruled over England, +and was a good lord; this winter he sat in London. But in those days +there was the same tongue in England as in Norway and Denmark; but the +tongues changed when William the Bastard won England, for thenceforward +French went current there, for he was of French kin. + +Gunnlaug went presently to the king, and greeted him well and worthily, +The king asked him from what land he came, and Gunnlaug told him all as +it was. "But," said he, "I have come to meet thee, lord, for that I have +made a song on thee, and I would that it might please thee to hearken to +that song." The king said it should be so, and Gunnlaug gave forth the +song well and proudly; and this is the burden thereof:-- + + "As God are all folk fearing + The free lord King of England, + Kin of all kings and all folk, + To Ethelred the head tow." + +The king thanked him for the song, and gave him as song-reward a scarlet +cloak lined with the costliest of furs, and golden-broidered down to the +hem; and made him his man; and Gunnlaug was with him all the winter, and +was well accounted of. + +One day, in the morning early, Gunnlaug met three men in a certain +street, and Thororm was the name of their leader; he was big and strong, +and right evil to deal with. He said, "Northman, lend me some money." + +Gunnlaug answered, "That were ill counselled to lend one's money to +unknown men." + +He said, "I will pay it thee back on a named day." + +"Then shall it be risked," says Gunnlaug; and he lent him the fee +withal. + +But some time afterwards Gunnlaug met the king, and told him of the +money-lending. The king answered, "Now hast thou thriven little, for +this is the greatest robber and reiver; deal with him in no wise, but I +will give thee money as much as thine was." + +Gunnlaug said, "Then do we, your men, do after a sorry sort, if, +treading sackless folk under foot, we let such fellows as this deal us +out our lot. Nay, that shall never be." + +Soon after he met Thororm and claimed the fee of him. He said he was not +going to pay it. + +Then sang Gunnlaug:-- + + "Evil counselled art thou, + Gold from us withholding; + The reddener of the edges, + Pricking on with tricking. + Wot ye what? they called me, + Worm-tongue, yet a youngling; + Nor for nought so hight I; + Now is time to show it!" + +"Now I will make an offer good in law," says Gunnlaug; "that thou either +pay me my money, or else that thou go on holm with me in three nights' +space." + +Then laughed the viking, and said, "Before thee none have come to that, +to call me to holm, despite of all the ruin that many a man has had to +take at my hands. Well, I am ready to go." + +Thereon they parted for that time. + +Gunnlaug told the king what had befallen; and he said, "Now, indeed, +have things taken a right hopeless turn; for this man's eyes can dull +any weapon. But thou shalt follow my rede; here is a sword I will +give thee--with that thou shalt fight, but before the battle show him +another." + +Gunnlaug thanked the king well therefor. + +Now when they were ready for the holm, Thororm asked what sort of a +sword it was that he had. Gunnlaug unsheathed it and showed him, but +had a loop round the handle of the king's sword, and slipped it over +his hand; the bearserk looked on the sword, and said, "I fear not that +sword." + +But now he dealt a blow on Gunnlaug with his sword, and cut off from him +nigh all his shield; Gunnlaug smote in turn with the king's gift; the +bearserk stood shieldless before him, thinking he had the same weapon he +had shown him, but Gunnlaug smote him his deathblow then and there. + +The king thanked him for this work, and he got much fame therefor, both +in England and far and wide elsewhere. + +In the spring, when ships sailed from land to land, Gunnlaug prayed King +Ethelred for leave to sail somewhither; the king asks what he was about +then. Gunnlaug said, "I would fulfil what I have given my word to do," +and sang this stave withal:-- + + "My ways must I be wending + Three kings' walls to see yet, + And earls twain, as I promised + Erewhile to land-sharers. + Neither will I wend me + Back, the worms'-bed lacking, + By war-lord's son, the wealth-free, + For work done gift well given." + +"So be it, then, skald," said the king, and withal he gave him a ring +that weighed six ounces; "but," said he, "thou shalt give me thy word to +come back next autumn, for I will not let thee go altogether, because of +thy great prowess." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. Of Gunnlaug in Ireland. + +Thereafter Gunnlaug sailed from England with chapmen north to Dublin. In +those days King Sigtrygg Silky-beard, son of King Olaf Kvaran and Queen +Kormlada, ruled over Ireland; and he had then borne sway but a little +while. Gunnlaug went before the king, and greeted him well and worthily. +The king received him as was meet. Then Gunnlaug said, "I have made a +song on thee, and I would fain have silence therefor." + +The king answered, "No men have before now come forward with songs for +me, and surely will I hearken to thine." Then Gunnlaug brought the song, +whereof this is the burden,-- + + "Swaru's steed + Doth Sigtrygg feed." + +And this is therein also:-- + + "Praise-worth I can + Well measure in man, + And kings, one by one-- + Lo here, Kvararis son! + Gruageth the king + Gift of gold ring? + I, singer, know + His wont to bestow. + Let the high king say, + Heard he or this day, + Song drapu-measure + Dearer a treasure?" + +The king thanked him for the song, and called his treasurer to him, and +said, "How shall the song be rewarded?" + +"What hast thou will to give, lord?" says he. + +"How will it be rewarded if I give him two ships for it?" said the king. + +Then said the treasurer, "This is too much, lord; other kings give in +regard of songs good keepsakes, fair swords, or golden rings." + +So the king gave him his own raiment of new scarlet, a gold-embroidered +kirtle, and a cloak lined with choice furs, and a gold ring which +weighed a mark. Gunnlaug thanked him well. + +He dwelt a short time here, and then went thence to the Orkneys. + +Then was lord in Orkney, Earl Sigurd, the son of Hlodver; he was +friendly to Icelanders. Now Gunnlaug greeted the earl well, and said he +had a song to bring him. The earl said he would listen thereto, since he +was of such great kin in Iceland. + +Then Gunnlaug brought the song; it was a shorter lay, and well done. The +earl gave him for lay-reward a broad axe, all inlaid with silver, and +bade him abide with him. + +Gunnlaug thanked him both for his gift and his offer, but said he was +bound east for Sweden; and thereafter he went on board ship with chapmen +who sailed to Norway. + +In the autumn they came east to King's Cliff, Thorkel, his kinsman, +being with him all the time. From King's Cliff they got a guide up to +West Gothland, and came upon a cheaping-stead, called Skarir: there +ruled an earl called Sigurd, a man stricken in years. Gunnlaug went +before him, and told him he had made a song on him; the earl gave a +willing ear hereto, and Gunnlaug brought the song, which was a shorter +lay. + +The earl thanked him, and rewarded the song well, and bade him abide +there that winter. + +Earl Sigurd had a great Yule-feast in the winter, and on Yule-eve came +thither men sent from Earl Eric of Norway, twelve of them together, and +brought gifts to Earl Sigurd. The earl made them good cheer, and bade +them sit by Gunnlaug through the Yule-tide; and there was great mirth at +drinks. + +Now the Gothlanders said that no earl was greater or of more fame than +Earl Sigurd; but the Norwegians thought that Earl Eric was by far the +foremost of the two. Hereon would they bandy words, till they both took +Gunnlaug to be umpire in the matter. + +Then he sang this stave:-- + + "Tell ye, staves of spear-din, + How on sleek-side sea-horse + Oft this earl hath proven + Over-toppling billows; + But Eric, victory's ash-tree, + Oft hath seen in east-seas + More of high blue billows + Before the bows a-roaring." + +Both sides were content with his finding, but the Norwegians the best. +But after Yule-tide those messengers left with gifts of goodly things, +which Earl Sigurd sent to Earl Eric. + +Now they told Earl Eric of Gunnlaug's finding: the earl thought that he +had shown upright dealing and friendship to him herein, and let out some +words, saying that Gunnlaug should have good peace throughout his land. +What the earl had said came thereafter to the ears of Gunnlaug. + +But now Earl Sigurd gave Gunnlaug a guide east to Tenthland, in Sweden, +as he had asked. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. Of the Quarrel between Gunnlaug and Raven before the Swedish King. + +In those days King Olaf the Swede, son of King Eric the Victorious, and +Sigrid the High-counselled, daughter of Skogul Tosti, ruled over Sweden. +He was a mighty king and renowned, and full fain of fame. + +Gunnlaug came to Upsala towards the time of the Thing of the Swedes in +spring-tide; and when he got to see the king, he greeted him. The +king took his greeting well, and asked who he was. He said he was an +Iceland-man. + +Then the king called out: "Raven," says he, "what man is he in Iceland?" + +Then one stood up from the lower bench, a big man and a stalwart, and +stepped up before the king, and spake: "Lord," says he, "he is of good +kin, and himself the most stalwart of men." + +"Let him go, then, and sit beside thee," said the king. + +Then Gunnlaug said, "I have a song to set forth before thee, king, and I +would fain have peace while thou hearkenest thereto." + +"Go ye first, and sit ye down," says the king, "for there is no leisure +now to sit listening to songs." + +So they did as he bade them. + +Now Gunnlaug and Raven fell a-talking together, and each told each of +his travels. Raven said that he had gone the summer before from Iceland +to Norway, and had come east to Sweden in the forepart of winter. They +soon got friendly together. + +But one day, when the Thing was over, they were both before the king, +Gunnlaug and Raven. + +Then spake Gunnlaug, "Now, lord, I would that thou shouldst hear the +song." + +"That I may do now," said the king. + +"My song too will I set forth now," says Raven. + +"Thou mayst do so," said the king. + +Then Gunnlaug said, "I will set forth mine first if thou wilt have it +so, king." + +"Nay," said Raven, "it behoveth me to be first, lord, for I myself came +first to thee." + +"Whereto came our fathers forth, so that my father was the little boat +towed behind? Whereto, but nowhere?" says Gunnlaug. "And in likewise +shall it be with us." + +Raven answered, "Let us be courteous enough not to make this a matter of +bandying of words. Let the king rule here." + +The king said, "Let Gunnlaug set forth his song first, for he will not +be at peace till he has his will." + +Then Gunnlaug set forth the song which he had made to King Olaf, and +when it was at an end the king spake. "Raven," says he, "how is the song +done?" + +"Right well," he answered; "it is a song full of big words and little +beauty; a somewhat rugged song, as is Gunnlaug's own mood." + +"Well, Raven, thy song," said the king. + +Raven gave it forth, and when it was done the king said, "How is this +song made, Gunnlaug?" + +"Well it is, lord," he said; "this is a pretty song, as is Raven himself +to behold, and delicate of countenance. But why didst thou make a short +song on the king, Raven? Didst thou perchance deem him unworthy of a +long one?" + +Raven answered, "Let us not talk longer on this; matters will be taken +up again, though it be later." + +And thereat, they parted. + +Soon after Raven became a man of King Olaf's, and asked him leave to +go away. This the king granted him. And when Raven was ready to go, he +spake to Gunnlaug, and said, "Now shall our friendship be ended, for +that thou must needs shame me here before great men; but in time to come +I shall cast on thee no less shame than thou hadst will to cast on me +here." + +Gunnlaug answers: "Thy threats grieve me nought. Nowhere are we likely +to come where I shall be thought less worthy than thou." + +King Olaf gave to Raven good gifts at parting, and thereafter. + + + + +CHAPTER X. How Raven came home to Iceland, and asked for Helga to Wife. + +Now this spring Raven came from the east to Thrandheim, and fitted out +his ship, and sailed in the summer to Iceland. He brought his ship to +Leiruvag, below the Heath, and his friends and kinsmen were right fain +of him. That winter he was at home with his father, but the summer after +he met at the Althing his kinsman, Skapti the law-man. + +Then said Raven to him, "Thine aid would I have to go a-wooing to +Thorstein Egilson, to bid Helga his daughter." + +Skapti answered, "But is she not already vowed to Gunnlaug Worm-tongue?" + +Said Raven, "Is not the appointed time of waiting between them passed +by? And far too wanton is he withal, that he should hold or heed it +aught." + +"Let us then do as thou wouldst," said Skapti. + +Thereafter they went with many men to the booth of Thorstein Egilson, +and he greeted them well. + +Then Skapti spoke: "Raven, my kinsman, is minded to woo thy daughter +Helga. Thou knowest well his blood, his wealth, and his good manners, +his many mighty kinsmen and friends." + +Thorstein said, "She is already the vowed maiden of Gunnlaug, and with +him shall I hold all words spoken." + +Skapti said, "Are not the three winters worn now that were named between +you?" + +"Yes," said Thorstein; "but the summer is not yet worn, and he may still +come out this summer." + +Then Skapti said, "But if he cometh not this summer, what hope may we +have of the matter then?" + +Thorstein answered, "We are like to come here next summer, and then +may we see what may wisely be done, but it will not do to speak hereof +longer as at this time." + +Thereon they parted. And men rode home from the Althing. But this talk +of Raven's wooing of Helga was nought hidden. + +That summer Gunnlaug came not out. + +The next summer, at the Althing, Skapti and his folk pushed the wooing +eagerly, and said that Thorstein was free as to all matters with +Gunnlaug. + +Thorstein answered, "I have few daughters to see to, and fain am I that +they should not be the cause of strife to any man. Now I will first see +Illugi the Black." And so he did. . + +And when they met, he said to Illugi, "Dost thou not think that I am +free from all troth with thy son Gunnlaug?" + +Illugi said, "Surely, if thou wiliest it. Little can I say herein, as I +do not know clearly what Gunnlaug is about." + +Then Thorstein went to Skapti, and a bargain was struck that the wedding +should be at Burg, about winter-nights, if Gunnlaug did not come out +that summer; but that Thorstein should be free from all troth with Raven +if Gunnlaug should come and fetch his bride. + +After this men ride home from the Thing, and Gunnlaug's coming was long +drawn out. But Helga thought evilly of all these redes. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. Of how Gunnlaug must needs abide away from Iceland. + +Now it is to be told of Gunnlaug that he went from Sweden the same +summer that Raven went to Iceland, and good gifts he had from King Olaf +at parting. + +King Ethelred welcomed Gunnlaug worthily, and that winter he was with +the king, and was held in great honour. + +In those days Knut the Great, son of Svein, ruled Denmark, and had +new-taken his father's heritage, and he vowed ever to wage war on +England, for that his father had won a great realm there before he died +west in that same land. + +And at that time there was a great army of Danish men west there, whose +chief was Heming, the son of Earl Strut-Harald, and brother to Earl +Sigvaldi, and he held for King Knut that land that Svein had won. + +Now in the spring Gunnlaug asked the king for leave to go away, but he +said, "It ill beseems that thou, my man, shouldst go away now, when all +bodes such mighty war in the land." + +Gunnlaug said, "Thou shalt rule, lord; but give me leave next summer to +depart, if the Danes come not." + +The king answered, "Then we shall see." + +Now this summer went by, and the next winter, but no Danes came; and +after midsummer Gunnlaug got his leave to depart from the king, and went +thence east to Norway, and found Earl Eric in Thrandheim, at Hladir, and +the earl greeted him well, and bade him abide with him. Gunnlaug thanked +him for his offer, but said he would first go out to Iceland, to look to +his promised maiden. + +The earl said, "Now all ships bound for Iceland have sailed." + +Then said one of the court, "Here lay, yesterday, Hallfred +Troublous-Skald, out tinder Agdaness." + +The earl answered, "That may well be; he sailed hence five nights ago." + +Then Earl Eric had Gunnlaug rowed put to Hallfred, who greeted him with +joy; and forthwith a fair wind bore them from land, and they were right +merry. + +This was late in the summer: but now Hallfred said to Gunnlaug, "Hast +thou heard of how Raven, the son of Onund, is wooing Helga the Fair?" + +Gunnlaug said he had heard thereof but dimly. Hallfred tells him all he +knew of it, and therewith, too, that it was the talk of many men that +Raven was in nowise less brave a man than Gunnlaug. Then Gunnlaug sang +this stave:-- + + "Light the weather wafteth; + But if this east wind drifted + Week-long, wild upon us + Little were I recking; + More this word I mind of + Me with Raven mated, + Than gain for me the gold-foe + Of days to make me grey-haired." + +Then Hallfred said, "Well, fellow, may'st thou fare better in thy strife +with Raven than I did in mine. I brought my ship some winters ago into +Leiruvag, and had to pay a half-mark in silver to a house-carle of +Raven's, but I held it back from him. So Raven rode at us with sixty +men, and cut the moorings of the ship, and she was driven up on the +shallows, and we were bound for a wreck. Then I had to give selfdoom +to Raven, and a whole mark I had to pay; and that is the tale of my +dealings with him." + +Then they two talked together alone of Helga the Fair, and Gunnlaug +praised her much for her goodliness; and Gunnlaug sang:-- + + "He who brand of battle + Beareth over-wary, + Never love shall let him + Hold the linen-folded; + For we when we were younger + In many a way were playing + On the outward nesses + From golden land outstanding." + +"Well sung!" said Hallfred. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. Of Gunnlaug's landing, and how he found Helga wedded to Raven. + +They made land north by Fox-Plain, in Hraunhaven, half a month before +winter, and there unshipped their goods. Now there was a man called +Thord, a bonder's son of the Plain, there. He fell to wrestling with the +chapmen, and they mostly got worsted at his hands. + +Then a wrestling was settled between him and Gunnlaug. The night before +Thord made vows to Thor for the victory; but the next day, when they +met, they fell-to wrestling. Then Gunnlaug tripped both feet from under +Thord, and gave him a. great fall; but the foot that Gunnlaug stood on +was put out of joint, and Gunnlaug fell together with Thord. + +Then said Thord, "Maybe that other things go no better for thee." + +"What then?" says Gunnlaug. + +"Thy dealings with Raven, if he wed Helga the Fair at winter-nights. I +was anigh at the Thing when that was settled last summer." + +Gunnlaug answered naught thereto. + +Now the foot was swathed, and put into joint again, and it swelled +mightily; but he and Hallfred ride twelve in company till they come to +Gilsbank, in Burg-firth, the very Saturday night when folk sat at the +wedding at Burg. Illugi was fain of his son Gunnlaug and his fellows; +but Gunnlaug said he would ride then and there down to Burg. Illugi said +it was not wise to do so, and to all but Gunnlaug that seemed good. But +Gunnlaug was then unfit to walk, because of his foot, though he would +not let that be seen. Therefore there was no faring to Burg. + +On the morrow Hallfred rode to Hreda-water, in North-water dale, where +Galti, his brother and a brisk man, managed their matters. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. Of the Winter-Wedding at Skaney, and how Gunnlaug +gave the Kings Cloak to Helga. + +Tells the tale of Raven, that he sat at his weddings-feast at Burg, and +it was the talk of most men that the bride was but drooping; for true is +the saw that saith, "Long we remember what youth gained us," and even so +it was with her now. + +But this new thing befell at the feast, that Hungerd, the daughter +of Thorod and Jofrid, was wooed by a man named Sverting, the son of +Hafr-Biorn, the son of Mold-Gnup, and the wedding was to come off that +winter after Yule, at Skaney, where dwelt Thorkel, a kinsman of Hungerd, +and son of Torn Valbrandsson; and the mother of Torn was Thorodda, the +sister of Odd of the Tongue. + +Now Raven went home to Mossfell with Helga his wife. When they had been +there a little while, one morning early before they rose up, Helga was +awake, but Raven slept, and fared ill in his sleep. And when he woke +Helga asked him what he had dreamt. Then Raven sang:-- + + "In thine arms, so dreamed I, + Hewn was I, gold island! + Bride, in blood I bled there, + Bed of thine was reddened. + Never more then mightst thou, + Mead-bowl'spourer speedy, + Bind my gashes bloody-- + Lind-leek-bough thou likst it." + +Helga spake: "Never shall I weep therefor," quoth she; "ye have evilly +beguiled me, and Gunnlaug has surely come out." And therewith she wept +much. + +But, a little after, Gunnlaug's coming was bruited about, and Helga +became so hard with Raven, that he could not keep her at home at +Mossfell; so that back they had to go to Burg, and Raven got small share +of her company. + +Now men get ready for the winter-wedding. Thorkel of Skaney bade Illugi +the Black and his sons. But when master Illugi got ready, Gunnlaug sat +in the hall, and stirred not to go. Illugi went up to him and said, "Why +dost thou not get ready, kinsman?" + +Gunnlaug answered, "I have no mind to go." + +Says Illugi, "Nay, but certes thou shalt go, kinsman," says he; "and +cast thou not grief over thee by yearning for one woman. Make as if thou +knewest nought of it, for women thou wilt never lack." + +Now Gunnlaug did as his father bade him; so they came to the wedding, +and Illugi and his sons were set down in the high seat; but Thorstein +Egilson, and Raven his son-in-law, and the bridegroom's following, were +set in the other high seat, over against Illugi. + +The women sat on the dais, and Helga the Fair sat next to the bride. +Oft she turned her eyes on Gunnlaug, thereby proving the saw, "Eyes will +bewray if maid love man." + +Gunnlaug was well arrayed, and had on him that goodly raiment that King +Sigtrygg had given him; and now he was thought far above all other men, +because of many things, both strength, and goodliness, and growth. + +There was little mirth among folk at this wedding. But on the day when +all men were making ready to go away the women stood up and got ready +to go home. Then went Gunnlaug to talk to Helga, and long they talked +together: but Gunnlaug sang:-- + + "Light-heart lived the Worm-tongue + All day long no longer + In mountain-home, since Helga + Had name of wife of Raven; + Nought foresaw thy father, + Hardener white of fight-thaw, + What my words should come to. + --The maid to gold was wedded." + +And again he sang:-- + + "Worst reward I owe them, + Father thine, O wine-may, + And mother, that they made thee + So fair beneath thy maid-gear; + For thou, sweet field of sea-flame, + All joy hast slain within me.-- + Lo, here, take it, loveliest + E'er made of lord and lady!" + +And therewith Gunnlaug gave Helga the cloak, Ethelred's-gift, which was +the fairest of things, and she thanked him well for the gift. + +Then Gunnlaug went out, and by that time riding-horses had been brought +home and saddled, and among them were many very good ones; and they +were all tied up in the road. Gunnlaug leaps on to a horse, and rides +a hand-gallop along the homefield up to a place where Raven happened +to stand just before him; and Raven had to draw out of his way. Then +Gunnlaug said,-- + +"No need to slink aback, Raven, for I threaten thee nought as at this +time; but thou knowest forsooth, what thou hast earned.". + +Raven answered and sang,-- + + "God of wound-flamed glitter, + Glorier of fight-goddess, + Must we fall a-fighting + For fairest kirtle-bearer? + Death-staffs many such-like + Fair as she is are there + In south-lands o'er the sea floods. + Sooth saith he who knoweth." + +"Maybe there are many such, but they do not seem so to me," said +Gunnlaug. + +Therewith Illugi and Thorstein ran up to them, and would not have them +fight. + +Then Gunnlaug sang,-- + + "The fair-hued golden goddess + For gold to Raven sold they, + (Raven my match as men say) + While the mighty isle-king, + Ethelred, in England + From eastward way delayed me, + Wherefore to gold-waster + Waneth tongue's speech-hunger." + +Hereafter both rode home, and all was quiet and tidingless that winter +through; but Raven had nought of Helga's fellowship after her meeting +with Gunnlaug. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. Of the Holmgang at the Althing. + +Now in summer men ride a very many to the Althing: Illugi the Blacky and +his sons with him, Gunnlaug and Hermund; Thorstein Egilson and +Kolsvein his son; Onund, of Mossfell, and his sons all, and Sverting, +Hafr-Biorn's son. Skapti yet held the spokesmanship-at-law. + +One day at the Thing, as men went thronging to the Hill of Laws, and +when the matters of the law were done there, then Gunnlaug craved +silence, and said:-- + +"Is Raven, the son of Onund, here?" + +He said he was. + +Then spake Gunnlaug, "Thou well knowest that thou hast got to wife my +avowed bride, and thus hast thou made thyself my foe. Now for this I bid +thee to holm here at the Thing, in the holm of the Axe-water, when three +nights are gone by." + +Raven answers, "This is well bidden, as was to be looked for of thee, +and for this I am ready, whenever thou wiliest it." + +Now the kin of each deemed this a very ill thing. But, at that time it +was lawful for him who thought himself wronged by another to call him to +fight on the holm. + +So when three nights had gone by they got ready for the holmgang, and +Illugi the Black followed his son thither with a great following. But +Skapti, the lawman, followed Raven, and his father and other kinsmen of +his. + +Now before Gunnlaug went upon the holm he sang,-- + + "Out to isle ofeel-field + Dight am I to hie me: + Give, O God, thy singer + With glaive to end the striving. + Here shall I the head cleave + Of Helga's love's devourer, + At last my bright sword bringeth + Sundering of head and body." + +Then Raven answered and sang,-- + + "Thou, singer, knowest not surely + Which of us twain shall gain it; + With edge for leg-swathe eager, + Here are the wound-scythes bare now. + In whatso-wise we wound us, + The tidings from the Thing here, + And fame of thanes' fair doings, + The fair young maid shall hear it." + +Hermund held shield for his brother, Gunnlaug; but Sverting, +Hafr-Biorn's son, was Raven's shield-bearer. Whoso should be wounded was +to ransom himself from the holm with three marks of silver. + +Now, Raven's part it was to deal the first blow, as he was the +challenged man. He hewed at the upper part of Gunnlaug's shield, and the +sword brake asunder just beneath the hilt, with so great might he smote; +but the point of the sword flew up from the shield and struck Gunnlaug's +cheek, whereby he got just grazed; with that their fathers ran in +between them, and many other men. + +"Now," said Gunnlaug, "I call Raven overcome, as he is weaponless." + +"But I say that thou art vanquished, since thou art wounded," said +Raven. + +Now, Gunnlaug was nigh mad, and very wrathful, and said it was not tried +out yet. + +Illugi, his father, said they should try no more for that time. + +Gunnlaug said, "Beyond all things I desire that I might in such wise +meet Raven again, that thou, father, wert not anigh to part us." + +And thereat they parted for that time, and all men went back to their +booths. + +But on the second day after this it was made law in the law-court that, +henceforth, all holmgangs should be forbidden; and this was done by the +counsel of all the wisest men that were at the Thing; and there, indeed, +were all the men of most counsel in all the land. And this was the last +holmgang fought in Iceland, this, wherein Gunnlaug and Raven fought. + +But this Thing was the third most thronged Thing that has been held +in Iceland; the first was after Njal's burning, the second after the +Heath-slaughters. + +Now, one morning, as the brothers Hermund and Gunnlaug went to Axe-water +to wash, on the other side went many women towards the river, and in +that company was Helga the Fair. Then said Hermund,-- + +"Dost thou see thy friend Helga there on the other side of the river?" + +"Surely, I see her," says Gunnlaug, and withal he sang:-- + + "Born was she for men's bickering: + Sore bale hath wrought the war-stemy + And I yearned ever madly + To hold that oak-tree golden. + To me then, me destroyer + Of swan-mead's flame, unneedful + This looking on the dark-eyed, + This golden land's beholding." + +Therewith they crossed the river, and Helga and Gunnlaug spake awhile +together, and as the brothers crossed the river eastward back again, +Helga stood and gazed long after Gunnlaug. + +Then Gunnlaug looked back and sang:-- + + "Moon of linen-lapped one, + Leek-sea-bearing goddess, + Hawk-keen out of heaven + Shone all bright upon me; + But that eyelid's moonbeam + Of gold-necklaced goddess + Her hath all undoing + Wrought, and me made nought of." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. How Gunnlaug and Raven agreed to go East to Norway, +to try the matter again. + +Now after these things were gone by men rode home from the Thing, and +Gunnlaug dwelt at home at Gilsbank. + +On a morning when he awoke all men had risen up, but he alone still lay +abed; he lay in a shut-bed behind the seats. Now into the hall came +twelve men, all full armed, and who should be there but Raven, Onund's +son; Gunnlaug sprang up forthwith, and got to his weapons. + +But Raven spake, "Thou art in risk of no hurt this time," quoth he, "but +my errand hither is what thou shalt now hear: Thou didst call me to a +holmgang last summer at the Althing, and thou didst not deem matters to +be fairly tried therein; now I will offer thee this, that we both fare +away from Iceland, and go abroad next summer, and go on holm in Norway, +for there our kinsmen are not like to stand in our way." + +Gunnlaug answered, "Hail to thy words, stoutest of men! this thine offer +I take gladly; and here, Raven, mayest thou have cheer as good as thou +mayest desire." + +"It is well offered," said Raven, "but this time we shall first have to +ride away." Thereon they parted. + +Now the kinsmen of both sore misliked them of this, but could in no wise +undo it, because of the wrath of Gunnlaug and Raven; and, after all, +that must betide that drew towards. + +Now it is to be said of Raven that he fitted out his ship in Leiruvag; +two men are named that went with him, sisters' sons of his father Onund, +one hight Grim, the other Olaf, doughty men both. All the kinsmen of +Raven thought it great scathe when he went away, but he said he had +challenged Gunnlaug to the holmgang because he could have no joy soever +of Helga; and he said, withal, that one must fall before the other. + +So Raven put to sea, when he had wind at will, and brought his ship to +Thrandheim, and was there that winter and heard nought of Gunnlaug that +winter through; there lie abode him the summer following: and still +another winter was he in Thrandheim, at a place called Lifangr. + +Gunnlaug Worm-tongue took ship with Hallfred Troublous-Skald, in the +north at The Plain; they were very late ready for sea. + +They sailed into the main when they had a fair wind, and made Orkney a +little before the winter. Earl Sigurd Lodverson was still lord over the +isles, and Gunnlaug went to him and abode there that winter, and the +earl held him of much account. + +In the spring the earl would go on warfare, and Gunnlaug made ready to +go with him; and that summer they harried wide about the South-isles +and Scotland's firths, and had many fights, and Gunnlaug always showed +himself the bravest and doughtiest of fellows, and the hardiest of men +wherever they came. + +Earl Sigurd went back home early in the summer, but Gurmlaug took ship +with chapmen, sailing for Norway, and he and Earl Sigurd parted in great +friendship. + +Gunnlaug fared north to Thrandheim, to Hladir, to see Earl Eric, and +dwelt there through the early winter; the earl welcomed him gladly, and +made offer to Gunnlaug to stay with him, and Gunnlaug agreed thereto. + +The earl had heard already how all had befallen between Gunnlaug and +Raven, and he told Gunnlaug that he laid ban on their fighting within +his realm; Gunnlaug said the earl should be free to have his will +herein. + +So Gunnlaug abode there the winter through, ever heavy of mood. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. How the two Foes met and fought at Dingness. + +But on a day in spring Gunnlaug was walking abroad, and his kinsman +Thorkel with him; they walked away from the town, till on the meads. +before them they saw a ring of men, and in that ring were two men with +weapons fencing; but one was named Raven, the other Gunnlaug, while they +who stood by said that Icelanders smote light, and were slow to remember +their words. + +Gunnlaug saw the great mocking hereunder, and much jeering was brought +into the play; and withal he went away silent. + +So a little while after he said to the earl that he had no mind to bear +any longer the jeers and mocks of his courtiers about his dealings with +Raven, and therewith he prayed the earl to give him a guide to Lifangr: +now before this the earl had been told that Raven had left Lifangr and +gone east to Sweden; therefore, he granted Gunnlaug leave to go, and +gave him two guides for the journey. + +Now Gunnlaug went from Hladir with six men to Lifangr; and, on the +morning of the very day whereas Gunnlaug came in in the evening, Raven +had left Lifangr with four men. Thence Gunnlaug went to Vera-dale, and +came always in the evening to where Raven had been the night before. + +So Gunnlaug went on till he came to the uppermost farm in the valley, +called Sula, wherefrom had Raven fared in the morning; there he stayed +not his journey, but kept on his way through the night. + +Then in the morning at sun-rise they saw one another. Raven had got to +a place where were two waters, and between them flat meads, and they +are called Gleipni's meads: but into one water stretched a little ness +called Dingness. There on the ness Raven and his fellows, five together, +took their stand. With Raven were his kinsmen, Grim and Olaf. + +Now when they met, Gunnlaug said, "It is well that we have found one +another." + +Raven said that he had nought to quarrel with therein; + +"But now," says he, "thou mayest choose as thou wilt, either that we +fight alone together, or that we fight all of us man to man." + +Gunnlaug said that either way seemed good to him. + +Then spake Raven's kinsmen, Grim and Olaf, and said that they would +little like to stand by and look on the fight, and in like wise spake +Thorkel the Black, the kinsman of Gunnlaug. + +Then said Gunnlaug to the earl's guides, "Ye shall sit by and aid +neither side, and be here to tell of our meeting;" and so they did. + +So they set on, and fought dauntlessly, all of them. Grim and Olaf went +both against Gunnlaug alone, and so closed their dealings with him that +Gunnlaug slew them both and got no wound. This proves Thord Kolbeinson +in a song that he made on Gunnlaug the Wormtongue:-- + + "Grim and Olaf great-hearts + In Gondul's din, with thin sword + First did Gunnlaug fell there + Ere at Raven fared he; + Bold, with blood be-drifted + Bane of three the thane was; + War-lord of the wave-horse + Wrought for men folks' slaughter." + +Meanwhile Raven and Thorkel the Black, Gunnlaug's kinsman, fought until +Thorkel fell before Raven and lost his life; and so at last all their +fellowship fell. Then they two alone fought together with fierce +onsets and mighty strokes, which they dealt each the other, falling on +furiously without stop or stay. + +Gunnlaug had the sword Ethelred's-gift, and that was the best of +weapons. At last Gunnlaug dealt a mighty blow at Raven, and cut his leg +from under him; but none the more did Raven fall, but swung round up to +a tree-stem, whereat he steadied the stump. + +Then said Gunnlaug, "Now thou art no more meet for battle, nor will I +fight with thee any longer, a maimed man." + +Raven answered: "So it is," said he, "that my lot is now all the worser +lot, but it were well with me yet, might I but drink somewhat." + +Gunnlaug said, "Bewray me not if I bring thee water in my helm." + +"I will not bewray thee," said Raven. Then went Gunnlaug to a brook and +fetched water in his helm, and brought it to Raven; but Raven stretched +forth his left hand to take it, but with his right hand drave his sword +into Gunnlaug's head, and that was a mighty great wound. + +Then Gunnlaug said, "Evilly hast thou beguiled me, and done traitorously +wherein I trusted thee." + +Raven answers, "Thou sayest sooth, but this brought me to it, that I +begrudged thee to lie in the bosom of Helga the Fair." + +Thereat they fought on, recking of nought; but the end of it was that +Gunnlaug overcame Raven, and there Raven lost his life.. + +Then the earl's guides came forward and bound the head-wound of +Gunnlaug, and in meanwhile, he sat and sang:-- + + "O thou sword-storm stirrer, + Raven, stem of battle + Famous, fared against me + Fiercely in the spear din. + Many a flight of metal + Was borne on me this morning, + By the spear-walls' builder, + Ring-bearer, on hard Dingness." + +After that they buried the dead, and got Gunnlaug on to his horse +thereafter, and brought him right down to Lifangr. There he lay three +nights, and got all his rights of a priest, and died thereafter, and was +buried at the church there. + +All men thought it great scathe of both of these men, Gunnlaug and +Raven, amid such deeds as they died. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. The News of the Fight brought to Iceland. + +Now this summer, before these tidings were brought out hither to +Iceland, Illugi the Black, being at home at Gilsbank, dreamed a dream: +he thought that Gunnlaug came to him in his sleep, all bloody, and he +sang in the dream this stave before him; and Illugi remembered the song +when he woke, and sang it before others:-- + + "Knew I of the hewing + Of Raven's hilt-finned steel-fish + Byrny-shearing--sword-edge + Sharp clave leg of Raven.-- + Of warm wounds drank the eagle, + When the war-rod slender, + Cleaver of the corpses, + Clave the head of Gunnlaug." + +This portent befel south at Mossfell, the self-same night, that Onund +dreamed how Raven came to him, covered all over with blood, and sang:-- + + "Red is the sword, but I now + Am undone by Sword-Odin. + 'Gainst shields beyond the sea-flood + The ruin of shields was wielded. + Methinks the blood-fowl blood-stained + In blood der men's heads stood there, + The wound-erne yet wound-eager + Trod over wounded bodies?" + +Now the second summer after this, Illugi the Black spoke at the Althing +from the Hill of Laws, and said:-- + +"Wherewith wilt thou make atonement to me for my son, whom Raven, thy +son, beguiled in his troth?" + +Onund answers, "Be it far from me to atone for him, so sorely as their +meeting hath wounded me. Yet will I not ask atonement of thee for my +son." + +"Then shall my wrath come home to some of thy kin," says Illugi. And +withal after the Thing was Illugi at most times very sad. + +Tells the tale how this autumn Illugi rode from Gilsbank with thirty +men, and came to Mossfell early in the morning. Then Onund got into the +church with his sons, and took sanctuary; but Illugi caught two of his +kin, one called Biorn and the other Thorgrim, and had Biorn slain, but +the feet smitten from Thorgrim. And thereafter Illugi rode home, and +there was no righting of this for Onund. + +Hermund, Illugi's son, had little joy after the death of Gunnlaug his +brother, and deemed he was none the more avenged even though this had +been wrought. + +Now there was a man called Raven, brother's son to Onund of Mossfell; +he was a great sea-farer, and had a ship that lay up in Ramfirth: and in +the spring Hermund Illugison rode from home alone north over Holt-beacon +Heath, even to Ramfirth, and out as far as Board-ere to the ship of +the chapmen. The chapmen were then nearly ready for sea; Raven, the +ship-master, was on shore, and many men with him; Hermund rode up to +him, and thrust him through with his spear, and rode away forthwith: but +all Raven's men were bewildered at seeing Hermund. + +No atonement came for this slaying, and therewith ended the dealings of +Illugi the Black and Onund of Mossfell. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. The Death of Helga the Fair. + +AS time went on, Thorstein Egilson married his daughter Helga to a man +called Thorkel, son of Hallkel, who lived west in Hraundale. Helga went +to his house with him, but loved him little, for she cannot cease to +think of Gunnlaug, though he be dead. Yet was Thorkel a doughty man, and +wealthy of goods, and a good skald. + +They had children together not a few, one of them was called Thorarin, +another Thorstein, and yet more they had. + +But Helga's chief joy was to pluck at the threads of that cloak, +Gunnlaug's gift, and she would be ever gazing at it. + +But on a time there came a great sickness to the house of Thorkel and +Helga, and many were bed-ridden for a long time. Helga also fell sick, +and yet she could not keep abed. + +So one Saturday evening Helga sat in the fire-hall, and leaned her head +upon her husband's knees, and had the cloak Gunnlaug's gift sent for; +and when the cloak came to her she sat up and plucked at it, and gazed +thereon awhile, and then sank back upon her husband's bosom, and was +dead. Then Thorkel sang this:-- + + "Dead in mine arms she droopeth, + My dear one, gold-rings bearer, + For God hath changed the life-days + Of this Lady of the linen. + Weary pain hath pined her, + But unto me, the seeker + Of hoard of fishes highway, + Abiding here is wearier." + +Helga was buried in the church there, but Thorke dwelt yet at Hraundale: +but a great matter seemed the death of Helga to all, as was to be looked +for. + +AND HERE ENDETH THE STORY. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue +And Raven The Skald, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF GUNNLAUG *** + +***** This file should be named 24421.txt or 24421.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/4/2/24421/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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