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EGIL’S SAGA

CHAPTER I. OF KVELDULF AND HIS SONS.

THERE was a man named Wolf, the son of Bialfi and of Hallbera, daughter of Wolf the Fearless; she was sister to Hallbiorn Half-troll in Hrafnista, the father of Ketil Haeng.

Wolf was a man so big and strong that there were none to match him. And when he was in his youthful age he lay out a-viking¹ and harried. With him was in fellowship that man that was called Berdla-Kari: a worshipful man and the greatest man of prowess both for doing and daring. He was a berserk.² He and Wolf had but one purse, and there was betwixt them the lovingest friendship. But when they gave over their harrying, then went Kari to his own place in Berdla. He was a man exceeding wealthy. Kari had three children: his sons were named Eyvind Lambi, the one, and the other Oliver Hnufa;³ his daughter’s name was Salbiorg. She was the most beautiful of women and a great lady,⁴ and her Wolf won to wife. Thereafter went he likewise to his own place.

Wolf was a man wealthy both in lands and loose goods. He took style and state of a landed man,⁵ like as had his father done before him, and became a man of might. So is it said, that Wolf was a great man in his housekeeping. That was his wont, to rise up betimes and so go among his men at their tasks or where his smiths were and overlook his stock and his tillage; and at whiles would he be talking with men, those who needed his counsel. Well he knew how to lay good counsel to every need, for he was very wise. But every day when it drew toward evening, then would he begin to be sulky, so that few men might come to speech with him. He was evening-sleepy; and that was the talk of men, that he was exceeding shape-strong.⁶ He was called Kveldulf.⁷

Kveldulf and his wife had two sons: the elder was named Thorolf, and the younger, Grim.⁸ And when they were waxen up, then were they both men big and strong, like as their father was. Thorolf was the comeliest of men and the ablest. He was like his mother’s kinsfolk, a very glad man, open-handed and a man swift and eager in all things, and the most masterful of men; beloved was he of all men. Grim was a black man and an ugly, like to his father both in outward seeming and in bent of mind. He grew to be a great workman: he was a handy man with timber and iron and became the greatest of smiths. He fared besides oft in winter a-herring-fishing with his fishing boat, and many housecarles⁹ along with him.

But when Thorolf was about twenty year old, then would he betake him to harrying. Kveldulf found him a long-ship.¹⁰ To that faring set forth those sons of Berdla-Kari, Eyvind and Oliver: they had a big company and another long-ship, and fared that summer a-viking and won them fee,¹¹ and a great booty they had to share. That was certain summers that they lay out a-viking, but were at home in winter-time with their fathers. Thorolf had away home with him many costly treasures, and brought them to his father and mother. That was a time both good for gain and renown among men.

Kveldulf was then much in his declining age, but his sons were full grown.

CHAPTER II. OF OLIVER AND SOLVEIG.

AUDBIORN was in that time king over the Firthfolk: Hroald was his earl¹ named, and the earl’s son Thorir.² Then too was Atli the Slender³ an earl: he dwelt at Gaular. His children were these: Hallstein, Holmstein, Herstein, and Solveig the Fair. That was on a time in autumn, that there was much folk in Gaular for the autumn-sacrifice.⁴ Oliver Hnufa saw Solveig there, and dearly set his heart upon her. Thereafter he asked her in marriage, but the earl thought the match uneven and would not give her. Thereafter made Oliver many love-song ditties. So mightily had Oliver set his heart on Solveig that he left off his war-faring, and there were now in war-faring but Thorolf and Eyvind Lambi.

CHAPTER III. THE UPRISING OF KING HARALD HAIRFAIR.

HARALD the son of Half dan the Black had taken heritage after his father east in the Wick. He had this oath sworn: to let not shear his hair neither comb it until he should be sole King over all Norway. He was called Harald Shockhead.¹

And now he fought against those kings that were nighest at hand, and conquered them: and of that are long stories told. Thereafter gat he unto him the Uplands. Thence fared he north into Thrandheim,² and had there many battles ere he made himself sole lord over all the Thrand-lay. Thereafter he was minded to fare north into Naumdale to deal with those brethren, Herlaug and Hrollaug, who were then kings over Naumdale. But when those brethren heard tell of his faring, then went Herlaug with eleven men into that howe they had before let be a-making through three winters, and thereafter was the howe shut up again. But King Hrollaug tumbled himself out of kingdom³ and took on him earl’s estate, and went therewith under the might of Harald the King and gave up his own realm. So gat King Harald unto him the Naumdale folk and Halogaland. There set he men over his realm.

After that, King Harald set forth out of Thrandheim with a host of ships and fared south to Mere: had there a battle with King Hunthiof and had the victory. There fell Hunthiof. Then gat King Harald unto him Northmere and Raumsdale. But Solvi Klofi, the son of Hunthiof, had escaped away, and he fared into Southmere to King Arnvid, and bade his help, and said as thus: “Though this trouble have now lighted on our hand, ’twill not be long ere the same trouble shall come upon you; for Harald, I ween, will shortly hither come, soon as he hath all men thralled and enslaved, according to his will, in Northmere and in Raumsdale. You will have that same choice too before your hands that we had: either to defend your fee and freedom, and hazard thereon every man’s ye have hope of aid from; and for this will I proffer myself, with mine aid, against this overweening and unjustness. But for your other choice, you must be content to take to that rede, as did the Naumdalers, to go of your own free will into bondage and be made thralls⁴ of Harald. To my father that seemed glory, to die in kingdom with honour, rather than be made in his old age under-man unto another king. I think that to thee, too, it so shall seem, and to others, them that show somewhat of free-board in their sailing,⁵ and will be men of valour”.

With such-like talk was the king brought to this set resolve, to raise forces and defend his land. He and Solvi bound them now in league together, and sent word to King Audbiorn that ruled over the Firthfolk, that he should come and help them. But when the messengers came to King Audbiorn and bare him this word-sending, then took he rede with his own friends, and that rede they gave him all, to raise forces and go join with Mere, even as word was sent him.

King Audbiorn let shear up the war-arrow⁶ and fare a host-bidding through all his realm. He sent men to all the great men to bid them to him. But when the king’s messengers came to Kveldulf and said unto him their errand, and this, too, that the king will that Kveldulf come to him with all his housecarles, then answereth Kveldulf as thus: “That may the king think binding on me, that I fare with him if he must defend his own land and be harried in the Firthfolk: but this count I all outside my bond, to fare north to Mere and do battle there and defend land of theirs. That is your swiftest to say, that Kveldulf will sit at home through this war-rush, and he will summon no war-host, and not make his this faring abroad to do battle against Harald Shockhead. For I ween that Harald hath weight enough of luck⁷ there, where our king hath not so much as a good fistful”.

The messengers fared home to the king and said unto him their errand’s speeding. But Kveldulf sat at home in his own place.

CHAPTER IV. OF THE BATTLE OFF SOLSKEL.

KING AUDBIORN fared, with that force that followed him, north into Mere, and fell in there with King Arnvid and Solvi Klofi, and they had all together a mighty war-host. King Harald was then too come from the north with his host, and their meeting was on the inner side of Solskel. There was there a great battle, and great man-fall in either host. There fell out of Harald’s host two earls, Asgaut and Asbiorn, and two sons of Hakon the Earl of Hladir,¹ Griotgard and Herlaug, and much else of men of might; but of the host of Mere fell King Arnvid and King Audbiorn. But Solvi Klofi came off by fleeing, and became thereafter a great viking, and did oft great scathe to the realm of Harald the King, and was called Solvi Klofi.

After that, Harald the King laid under him Southmere. Vemund, brother of King Audbiorn, held the Firthfolk, and made himself king thereover.

These things befell late in autumn, and men counselled King Harald that he should not fare south about Stad these autumn-days. Then set King Harald Earl Rognvald² over either Mere, and over Raumsdale. King Harald turned back north then into Thrandheim, and had about him great strength of men.

That same autumn the sons of Atli made an onset upon Oliver Hnufa in his house, and would slay him. They had a company so great that Oliver had no means to withstand them, but ran away and so came off. He fared then north into Mere, and there found Harald the King, and Oliver went under the hand of him and fared north to Thrandheim with the King that autumn; and he grew into the greatest loving-kindness with the King, and was with him long time afterward, and became a skald³ of his.

That winter fared Earl Rognvald by the inland road across the Eid south to the Firths, and had espial of the goings of King Vemund, and came by night to that place that is named Naustdale, and there was Vemund a-feasting. There Earl Rognvald took the house over their heads, and burnt the king within door with ninety men. After that, came Berdla-Kari to Earl Rognvald with a long-ship all manned, and they fared both north into Mere. Rognvald took those ships that King Vemund had had, and all those loose goods that he found. Berdla-Kari fared then north to Thrandheim to find Harald the King, and became his man.

That next spring fared King Harald south along the land with a host of ships, and laid under him the Firths and Fialir and placed in power there men of his own. He set Earl Hroald over the Firthfolk. King Harald was much heedful, when he had gotten to him those folk-lands that were new-come under his dominion, of the landed men and powerful bonders and of all those that he had doubt of, that some uprising was to be looked for from them. Then let he every one of them do one of two things: become his servants, or get them gone out of the land; and, for a third choice, suffer hard conditions, or lose their lives else; and some were maimed either of hand or foot. King Harald gat to him in every folk-land all odal rights⁴ and all land, dwelt and undwelt, as well as the sea and the waters; and all dwellers therein should be his tenants, be it they that worked in the forests, or salt-carles, or all manner of hunters or fishers, both by sea and by land, these were all now made tributary unto him. But from this enslavement fled many men away out of the land, and then began to be settled many waste parts far and wide, both east in Jamtaland and Helsingland and in the west countries: the South-isles, Dublin’s shire in Ireland, Normandy in Val-land, Caithness in Scotland, the Orkneys and Shetland, the Faereys. And in that time was found Iceland.⁵

CHAPTER V. OF KING HARALD’S SENDING TO KVELDULF.

HARALD the King lay with his war-host in the Firths. He sent men up and down the land there to seek out those men that had not come to him, that it seemed to him he had an errand with. The King’s messengers came to Kveldulf, and found there good welcome. They bare up their errand: said that the King would that Kveldulf should come and see him. “He hath”, said they, “heard tell that thou art a worshipful man and of great family: thou wilt have choice at his hand of great honours: great store setteth the King by this, to have with him those men that he heareth are men of prowess in strength and in hardihood.”

Kveldulf answered and said that he was now an old man, so that he was now nought fit to be out in war-ships. “I will now sit at home, and give over serving of kings.”

Then spake the messenger: “Let then thy son fare to the King. He is a big man and a soldierly.¹ The King will make thee a landed man, if thou wilt serve him”.

“I will not”, said Grim, “be made a landed man, while my father liveth, because he only shall be my over-man while he liveth.”

The messengers went away; and when they were come to the King, they said to him all that which Kveldulf had spoken before them. The King became sulky with that, and spake but a word or two: said that these must be men of a haughty make, or what then were they minded for?

Oliver Hnufa was then stood near, and prayed the King be not wroth. “I will go and see Kveldulf and he will be willing to come and see you,² the instant he knoweth that you think aught lieth on it.”

And now fared Oliver to see Kveldulf, and said to him that the King was wroth, and nought would do but one or other of them, father or son, must go to the King; and said that they should get great honour of the King, if they would but serve him. He spake much too of this (as true it was), that the King was good to his own men both as for fee and meeds of honour.

Kveldulf said that that was his mind’s foreboding, “That we, father and sons, will get no luck with this King,³ and I will not go to see him. But if Thorolf come home this summer, then will he be easily ’ticed to this faring, and so to become the King’s man. So say unto the King, that I will be friend of his, and all men that obey my words I will hold to friendship with him. I will, too, hold that same meed of rule and stewardship under his hand as before I had of our former king, if the King will that so it be. And later on ’twill be seen what way things shape ’twixt us and the King”.

And now fared Oliver back to the King and said to him that Kveldulf would send him a son of his, and said that one was of nature apter thereto who was then not at home. The King let it rest then. He fared now for the summer into Sogn, but when it began to be autumn he made ready to fare north to Thrandheim.

CHAPTER VI. HOW THOROLF KVELDULFSON WENT TO KING HARALD.

THOROLF KVELDULFSON and Eyvind Lambi came in the autumn home from their viking. Thorolf went to his father. Then fall they, father and son, to talk one to another. Thorolf asketh what hath been the errand of those men that Harald sent thither. Kveldulf said that the King had sent word to this intent, that Kveldulf should become his man, he or one or other of his sons.

“What way answeredst thou?” quoth Thorolf.

“So said I, as was in my mind, that never would I go under the hand of Harald the King, nor yet should either of you two, if I should have the say. Methinks in the end ’twill so come about that there shall betide us nought but ruin from that King.”

“Then shapeth it all another way,” said Thorolf, “than my mind saith of it; because methinks there shall betide me from him the greatest furtherance. And on this am I fast resolved, to go see the King and become his man. And that have I heard for true, that his bodyguard¹ is manned but with men of derring-do only. That seemeth to me a thing much to be longed for to come into their fellowship if they will take to me. Those men are holden far better than all others in this land. So is it said to me of the King, that he is most free-handed of money-gifts to his men, and no less swift to give them advancement and award them lordship, them that seem to him apt thereto. But that way am I told, of all those who will turn their backs on him and not serve him friendly, that all those are become men of nought: some fly out of the land abroad, but some are made his hirelings. That seems to me wonderful, father, in so wise a man as thou beest and such a seeker after high things, that thou wouldst not with thanks take this honourable using that the King bade thee. But if thou think thyself foresighted as to this, that there will betide us but unhap from this King, and that he will wish to be our unfriend: why wentest thou not then into battle against him with that king under whose hand thou wast aforetime? Now, methinks, is that of all things unseemliest: to be neither friend of his nor unfriend.”

“So came it about,” said Kveldulf, “even as my mind foreboded me, that they would fare on no victorious journey who did battle against Harald Shockhead north in Mere. And in such same wise will that be true, that Harald will be for a great scathe unto my kindred. But thou, Thorolf, wilt have thine own way belike, to do as thou wilt. Of this have I no dread: lest, and thou be come into the company of the men of Harald’s bodyguard, thou shouldst be thought not of a measure with thy lot, yea, and a match for the foremost in all that trieth a man. Beware thou of this, lest thou hold not thyself well in hand nor bring to strife with thee greater men; and yet wilt thou not give back before them neither.”

But when Thorolf made ready to be gone, then Kveldulf led him down to the ship, kissed him, and bade him farewell and a safe return.

CHAPTER VII. OF BIORGOLF AND BRYNIOLF, AND OF THE BEGINNINGS OF THE SONS OF HILDIRID.

BIORGOLF was named a man of Halogaland.¹ He dwelt in Torgar. He was a landed man, rich and powerful: also he was half mountain-giant in strength and in growth and by birth withal. He had a son that was named Bryniolf: he was like his father.

Biorgolf was then old, and his wife dead, and he had made over into his son’s hand all his affairs and looked about for a wife for him; and Bryniolf gat to wife Helga, a daughter of Ketil Haeng of Hrafnista. The son of those twain is named Bard: he was early big and comely of look, and became the most skilled of men in all feats.

That was of an autumn, that in that place was a banquet² well-thronged, and those two, Biorgolf and his son, were the worshipfullest men at that banquet. There was lots cast for men to sit two and two³ for the afternoon, as was then the wont to do. Now there at the banquet was that man that was named Hogni. He had his dwelling in Leka. He was a man of great wealth; of all men the comeliest of look, a wise man, withal of lowly kindred, and had made his own way. He had a daughter right comely, that is named Hildirid. To her it was allotted to sit beside Biorgolf. Much they talked on that evening, and in his sight the maid was fair. A little while after, brake up that banquet.

That same autumn old Biorgolf made him a journey from home, and took a cutter⁴ that he had and aboard of her thirty men. He came his ways to Leka and went up to the house twenty in company, but ten minded the ship. But when they came to the farmstead then went Hogni to meet him and welcomed him kindly: bade him be there with his company; so he took that offer and they went in to the hall.⁵ But when they had doffed their clothes and done on their mantles, then let Hogni bear in a mixing-bowl and strong beer.⁶ Hildirid, the bonder’s daughter, bare ale to the guests.⁷

Biorgolf calleth to him goodman Hogni and saith unto him that “This is mine errand hither, that I will that thy daughter fare home with me, and now will I make her a loose bridal”.⁸ But Hogni saw no other choice but to let all be so, as Biorgolf would have it. Biorgolf bought her with an ounce of gold,⁹ and they went both into one bed together. Hildirid fared home with Biorgolf into Torgar.

Bryniolf accounted ill of these redes.

Biorgolf and Hildirid had two sons: the one was named Harek and the other Hraerek. Thereafter died Biorgolf; but as soon as he was carried out, then let Bryniolf fare away Hildirid, and her sons along with her. She fared then to Leka to her father, and there were they bred up, those sons of Hildirid. They were men comely of look, little of growth, well witted, like to their mother’s kinsfolk. They were called the sons of Hildirid.¹⁰ Little account made Bryniolf of them, and suffered them not to have aught of their father’s heritage. Hildirid was Hogni’s heiress, and she and her sons took heritage after him and dwelt now in Leka and had wealth enow. They were much of an age, Bard Bryniolfson and the sons of Hildirid.

That father and son, Biorgolf and Bryniolf, had long time had the Finn-fare and the Finn-scat.¹¹

North in Halogaland is a firth named Vefsnir. There lieth an isle in the firth, and is named Alost, a great isle and a good. In it is a farmstead, Sandness by name: there dwelt a man that was named Sigurd. He was wealthiest of all in the north there. He was a landed man, and cunning of wisdom. Sigrid was his daughter named, and was thought the best match in Halogaland. She was his only child, and had the heritage to take after Sigurd her father.

Bard Bryniolfson made him a journey from home: had a cutter and aboard of her thirty men. He fared north to Alost and came to Sandness to Sigurd’s. Bard took up the word and bade Sigrid to wife. That suit was well answered and in likely wise, and so came it that troth was plighted betwixt Bard and the maiden, and the wedding should be next summer. Then should Bard betake him thither north again for the wedding.

CHAPTER VIII. OF THOROLF AND BARD BRYNIOLFSON.

HARALD the King had that summer sent word unto the great men, them that were in Halogaland, and summoned to him those that had aforetime not been to see him. Bryniolf was minded for that journey, and with him Bard his son. They fared at autumn-tide south to Thrandheim and there met the King. He took to them exceeding kindly. Bryniolf became then the King’s landed man. The King bestowed on him great revenues beside those that he had aforetime had: he bestowed on him withal the Finn-fare: the King’s stewardship on the fell,¹ and the Finn-cheaping. After that, fared Bryniolf away and home to his own place; but Bard abode behind, and became of the King’s bodyguard.

Of all the men of his bodyguard the King set most store by his skalds.² They had place on the lower bench. Inmost of them sat Audun Ill-skald: he was their eldest, and he had been skald to Halfdan the Black, the father of Harald the King. Next after sat Thorbiorn Hornklofi,³ and next after sat Oliver Hnufa, but next to him was place made for Bard. He was called there Bard the White, or Bard the Strong. He was well esteemed there of every man. Betwixt him and Oliver Hnufa there was great good-fellowship.

That same autumn came to King Harald those two, Thorolf Kveldulfson and Eyvind Lambi, the son of Berdla-Kari. They found there a good welcome. They had thither a snake-ship,⁴ of twenty benches well manned, that they had before had a-viking. Place was made for them in the guest-hall with their following. When they had tarried there until it seemed to them time to go and see the King, there went with them Berdla-Kari and Oliver Hnufa. They greet the King. Then saith Oliver Hnufa⁵ that here is come the son of Kveldulf, “Whom I said to you last summer that Kveldulf would send to you. You will find his promises fast kept. You may now see sure tokens that he will be your full and perfect friend, sith he hath sent his own son hither to service with you: so gallant a man, as you now may see. And that is our boon, of Kveldulf and all of us, that thou take to Thorolf honourably and make him a great man with you”.

The King answereth well his suit, and said he should so do, “If Thorolf approve himself to me as good a man as he hath the look of a full manly one”.

And now Thorolf gat himself under the hand of the King and went there into the lay of the bodyguard; but Berdla-Kari and Eyvind Lambi, his son, fared south with that ship which Thorolf had had north. Then fared Kari home to his own place, he and Eyvind both. Thorolf was with the King, and the King appointed him to sit between Oliver Hnufa and Bard, and there grew to be amongst all three of them the greatest good-fellowship. That was men’s talk of Thorolf and Bard, that they were even-matched for comeliness and in growth and might and all feats of skill. Now is Thorolf there in exceeding great lovingkindness with the King, both he and Bard.

But when winter wore and summer came, then Bard bade leave of the King to go look to that marriage that had been promised him the summer before. And when the King knew that Bard had an errand of moment, then gave he him leave for homeward-faring. But when he had gotten leave, then bade he Thorolf fare with him northaway. He said (as was true) that he would there likely be able to meet many noble kinsfolk of his⁶ that he would not have seen before or had acquaintance with them. To Thorolf that seemed much to be longed for, and for this they get them leave from the King.

So now they make ready: had a good ship and ship’s company: fared then on their way as soon as they were ready. But when they come to Torgar, then send they men to Sigurd and let say to him that Bard will now look to that marriage which they had bound themselves to, the summer before. Sigurd saith that he will hold by all that which they had spoken: they fix, then, the wedding-feast, and Bard and his folk must seek north thither to Sandness. But when the time was come, then fare they, Bryniolf and Bard, and had with them a mort of great men, kinsmen of theirs by blood and affinity.⁷ It was as Bard had said, that Thorolf met there many kinsfolk of his that he had not before had acquaintance with. They fared until they came to Sandness, and there was there the stateliest of feasts. But when the feast was ended, Bard fared home with his wife and tarried at home that summer, he and Thorolf both. But in the autumn come they south to the King, and were with him another winter.

That winter died Bryniolf. But when Bard learneth of this, that his heritage was there fallen in, then bade he leave for faring home; and the King granted him that. And before they parted, Bard was made a landed man, like as his father had been, and had of the King all revenues, the like that Bryniolf had had. Bard fared home to his own place, and in short while became a mighty lord.⁸ But Hildirid’s sons gat nought of the heritage then no more than aforetime.

Bard had a son with his wife, and that was named Grim. Thorolf was with the King, and had there great esteem.

CHAPTER IX. OF THE BATTLE OF HAFRSFIRTH.

HARALD the King bade out a great war-gathering, and drew together a host of ships. He summoned to him the folk wide about the lands. He fared out from Thrandheim and stood south along the land. These tidings had he heard, that a great war-host was drawn together about Agdir and Rogaland and Hordaland, gathered from near and far, both down from the land and from eastaway out of the Wick, and there was there a mort of great men come together, and minded to defend the land against Harald the King.

King Harald held his way from the north with his folk. Himself he had a great ship and manned with his bodyguard. There, in the stem,¹ was Thorolf Kveldulfson, and Bard the White, and those sons of Berdla-Kari, Oliver Hnufa and Eyvind Lambi; but the berserks of the King were twelve together in the bows. Their meeting was south off Rogaland, in Hafrsfirth.² There was there the greatest battle of any that King Harald had had, and great man-fall of either host. The King laid his ship well forward, and there was the battle strongest; but so ended it, that King Harald gat the victory. And there fell Thorir Longchin, King of Agdir; but Kiotvi the Wealthy fled, and all his host that yet stood up, save those that went under the King’s hand after the battle.

Now when the host was kenned of Harald the King there was much people fallen and many were sore wounded. Thorolf was wounded sore, but Bard worse, and not one was unwounded in the King’s ship forward of the sail, save those that iron bit not³ (and that was his berserks). Then let the King bind the wounds of his men, and thanked men for their forwardness, and bestowed gifts, and laid most praise on them that seemed to him worthiest of it, and promised them to swell their honour: named for this his skippers, and next to them his stem-men and other forecastle-men.

This was the latest battle that Harald the King had within the land, and after that found he no withstanding, and gat to himself thenceforth all the land.

The King let leech his men, them that there was yet hope of life for, and let give lyke-help⁵ unto the dead men, in such sort as was then the wont to do. Thorolf and Bard lay in their wounds. Thorolf’s wounds took to healing, but Bard’s wounds grew like to be banesome. Then let he call the King to him and said to him thus: “If so betide, that I die of these wounds, then will I crave this of you, that you let me rule mine inheritance after me”.

But when the King had yea-said that, then said he: “All mine inheritance after me will I that Thorolf, my fellow and kinsman, take: both lands and loose goods; to him will I give my wife,⁴ too, and my son for uprearing, because I do trust him for this, best of all men”. He settleth these matters, as was the law thereto, with the King’s leave. And now dieth Bard, and there was given him lyke-help, and it was thought much harm of his death.

Thorolf gat well of his wounds, and followed the King that summer, and had gotten exceeding great renown. The King fared in the autumn north to Thrandheim. Then prayeth Thorolf leave to fare north to Halogaland to look to those gifts which he had received that summer of Bard his kinsman. The King giveth leave for that, and sendeth word therewith and tokens that Thorolf shall have all that which Bard gave him: let that follow, that that gift was made with rede of the King, and that his will it is so to let it be. The King maketh now Thorolf a landed man, and bestoweth on him now all those revenues the same which before Bard had had: granteth him the Finn-fare with like conditions, even as Bard had had it before. The King gave Thorolf a good long-ship with all her gear and let make ready his journey thence as best might be. And now fared Thorolf thence on his journey, and he and the King parted with the greatest loving-kindness.

But when Thorolf came north to Torgar, then was there joyful welcoming of him. He said to them then of Bard’s death, and that withal, that Bard had given him to take after him lands and loose goods, and his wife too that had before been his: and now set forth the word of the King and the tokens. But when Sigrid heard these tidings, then thought she that great scathe she had to lose her man. But Thorolf was before well known to her, and well she wist that he was the greatest man of mark and that that match was exceeding good; and, seeing it was the King’s bidding, she counted it good rede (and her friends were with her in this) to plight troth with Thorolf, if that were not against her father’s liking. Therewith took Thorolf unto him the management of all things there, and withal the King’s stewardship.

Thorolf made him a journey from home, and had a long-ship and nigh sixty men and fared now when he was ready, north along the land. And on a day at evening came he into Alost, to Sandness: laid their ship in harbour; and when they had tilted⁶ her and made all snug, Thorolf went up to the farmstead with twenty men. Sigurd welcomed him joyfully, and bade him be there, for well known was each to other before, since first Sigurd and Bard had become father and son-in-law.⁷ And now went Thorolf and his folk into the hall and took there guesting. Sigurd sat him down to talk with Thorolf, and asked for tidings. Thorolf told of that battle that had been last summer south in the land, and the fall of many men that were well known to Sigurd; Thorolf said that Bard, his son-in-law, had died of those wounds that he gat in the battle. That seemed to them both the greatest man-scathe. Then saith Thorolf unto Sigurd what had been in the privy talk betwixt him and Bard, before he died, and so he bare forward the word-sending of the King, that the King would let all that hold: and therewith he showed the tokens. And now Thorolf took up his wooing with Sigurd, and bade to wife Sigrid his daughter. Sigurd took that suit well: said that many things held for this: first, that the King’s will it is so to let it be; that too, that Bard had asked for this, and that withal, that Thorolf was known to him and he thought his daughter well given so. That suit was easy-sped with Sigurd. Then went forward the betrothals and appointing of the bridal feast, to be in Torgar that autumn. Thorolf fared home then to his own place, he and his company, and made ready there a great feast and bade thither great throng of men. There was there a mort of Thorolf’s noble kinsmen. Sigurd too set out from the north, and had a great long-ship and good choice of men. There was at that feast the greatest throng of men.

Soon was that found, that Thorolf was an openhanded man, and a great man of account. He had about him a great following, and soon became that exceeding costly and needed great provision. Then was the year good and an easy stroke to get that whereof need was.

The same winter, died Sigurd at Sandness, and Thorolf took all his heritage after him. That was exceeding great fee. Those sons of Hildirid came to see Thorolf and brought up that claim which they would be thought to have there, to that fee which had belonged to Biorgolf their father. Thorolf answereth as thus: “That was known to me of Bryniolf, and yet better known as to Bard, that they were men of so great manliness that they would sure have dealt out unto you two so much of Biorgolf’s heritage as they wist you had a right to. I was by, when ye raised these same claims with Bard; and so it sounded to me as though he should think there was no true claim there, sith he called you bastard-born”.⁸

Harek said that they would bring witness to this, that their mother was dower-boughten, “And yet true it was that we followed not at first this suit with Bryniolf our brother. For there ’twas dealing ’twixt kin and kin; but of Bard we looked to get our due every whit, but it came about that no long dealings might we have with him. But now is this heritage come to men nought of kin with us twain, and we may not now altogether hold our peace over this loss of ours. And yet, it may hap that there shall yet be, as afore, that stress of power, that we get not our right in this suit ’cause of thee: if thou wilt hear no witness, such as we have to put forward, that we be men odal-born”.

Thorolf answereth then moodily: “So far from me is it to deem you heirship-born, that ’tis said to me that the mother of you two was with violence taken and was had home as spoil of war”.

After that, they brake off this talk.

CHAPTER X. OF THOROLF’s FINN-FARING.

THOROLF made him that winter his journey up into the fell,¹ and had with him a great force, not less than ninety men. But before had the wont of it been that the King’s bailiffs had had thirty men, and whiles fewer. He had with him great store of cheaping. He set him speedily a tryst with the Finns and took of them scat² and had with them a cheaping-fair. All went in kindness betwixt them and in friendly wise, albeit some deal ’twas awe made them willing.

Thorolf fared wide about the Mark: but when he set his face east toward the fell, he had word that the Kylfings³ were come from the east and fared there a-Finn-cheaping, but some part they fared a-robbing. Thorolf set on the Finns to hold espial of the faring of the Kylfings; but he came after a-seeking for them, and hit upon thirty men of them in one lair and slew all, so as not one came off, and after that he hit upon fifteen together or twenty. In all, they slew nigh a hundred men and took there fee past all telling, and came back about spring-time, their affair thus sped.

Thorolf fared then to his own place at Sandness and sat there long through the spring. He let make a long-ship, great, and a drake’s head thereto: let dight her like the best: had her along with him from the north. Thorolf swept much into his own net of those takings that then were in Halogaland: had men of his in the herring-fisheries and so too in the cod-fisheries.⁴ There were seal-takings too enow, and egg-takings. He let flit all that home to him. He had never fewer freedmen at home than a hundred.⁵ He was an openhanded man and a bountiful and made friends much with the great men, all those men that were in his neighbourhood. He became a mighty man, and laid much thought to his ships’ arraying and his weapons.

CHAPTER XI. OF THE FARING OF KING HARALD INTO HALOGALAND AND HIS GUESTING WITH THOROLF KVEL-DULFSON.

HARALD the King fared that summer into Halogaland and there were made feasts against his coming, both there where were houses of his, and so too did the landed men make feasts and the powerful bonders. Thorolf made ready a feast against the King’s coming and laid out great charges thereon: that was appointed for when the King should come there. Thorolf bade thither a throng of men, and had there the best pick of men that was to choose from. The King had near three hundred men when he came to the feast, but Thorolf had to meet him five hundred men.

Thorolf had let make ready a great corn-barn that was there, and let lay benches in it, and let drink there: because there was there no hall so great as that that throng of men might all be within it. There were shields withal fastened to the walls all round about inside the house.

The King sate him in the high seat. But when all was arrayed both withinward and to doorward, then the King gazed about him and turned red, and spake not; and men thought they knew that he was wroth.

The feast was of the stateliest and all the fare of the best. The King was something unmerry, and was there three nights, as he had meant to be.

That day when the King should fare away, came Thorolf to him and prayed that they should go down to the strand together. The King did so. There lay afloat by the land there that drake which Thorolf had let build, with her tilts and all her gear. Thorolf gave the King the ship, and prayed that the King should so esteem it (even as it had gone in his own mind), as that he had only for this sake had so great throng of men, that he might do the King honour, and not at all for a matching of strength with him. The King took well with Thorolf’s words, and made himself now blithe and merry. And now many laid good words thereto, saying (as true it was) that the feast was of the honourablest and the parting-gift of the splendidest, and that there was great strength to the King of such-like men. Then parted they with great loving-kindness.

The King fared north in Halogaland as he had had the mind to do, and turned again south as summer wore. He fared then still to feasts, where they were made ready before him.

CHAPTER XII. OF THE EVIL SPEECH OF THOSE SONS OF HILDIRID.

HILDIRID’S sons went to see the King and bade him home to a three nights’ feast. The King said yea to their bidding, and told them whenabouts he should come there. But when the appointed time was come, then came the King there with his folk, and there was there no throng of men to meet him, yet the feast went forward at the best. The King was all merry.

Harek fell a-talking with the King, and it came to this in his talk that he asketh of the King’s farings which had been that summer. The King answered so much as he asked him: said all men had made him good cheer, and each much according to his means.

“Great odds,” said Harek,¹ “will there have been in this, that in Torgar will your feast have been most thronged with men?”

The King said that so it was.

Harek saith, “That was to be looked for, sure, for as much as for that feast was the most provision made. And you did bear, King, the mightiest good luck therein, that so it turned out that you came into no danger of your life. It fared, as indeed was likely, that thou wast both wisest and best gifted with luck, in that thou didst misdoubt thee straightway that all should not be wholesome, when thou sawest that great throng of men which was there drawn to a head. Ay, and it was said to me that thou didst let all thy folk be ever all-weaponed, or didst have watch and ward kept alway both night and day”.

The King looked on him and spake: “Why speakest thou such-like things, Harek, or what canst thou thereof to say?”

He saith, “Whether shall I speak with your leave, King, even as likes me?”

“Speak,” saith the King.

“That is my thought,” saith Harek: “if thou, King, mightest hear the word of each man, when men speak at home after their own heart and mind, what slavery that seemeth to them that you do put upon all men-folk, methinks thou shouldst think it not well. And that is truest to say unto you, King, that there wanteth no other thing to the common sort that they should rise up against you, save only hardihood and a captain. And that is nought wondrous,” saith he, “in such-like men as Thorolf is, that he think himself far above every man else. He wanteth not might, nor goodly seeming neither. He hath, too, his bodyguard about him, like a king. He hath a mort of money, were it he had that only which himself had a right to. But, more than this, he maketh free to do as he list with other men’s fee as of his own. You have granted him withal great revenues; and ’twas now all gotten ready so as he should pay you back nowise well for that. Because that is truest to tell you, that, soon as ’twas heard that you were a-faring north to Halogaland with no more folk than you had, three hundred men, then was that the rede of men hereabout that here should a host come together and take thy life, King, of thee and all thy folk; and ’twas Thorolf was leader in these counsels, because that offer was made him that he should be king over the folk of Halogaland and over the Naumdale folk. Fared he then both out and in by every firth and about all the isles and gathered every man that he found and every weapon, and that went nowise hidden, that that host-gathering was for the going against Harald the King in battle. Yea, but that is true, King, that, albeit you had a host something lesser than theirs when you met them, there shot terror into the breasts of these bonder-lads,² soon as they saw your sailing. Then was the other rede taken, to go and meet you with blitheness and bid you to feasting. But then were they minded, if you should be drunken and be laid a-sleeping, to make an onslaught on you with fire and weapons: whereof this for a token, if I have heard tell aright, that you were bidden in to some corn-barn, because Thorolf would nowise burn up his own hall, new and well bedight. And that withal was for a token, that every house was full of weapons and war-harness. But when they found no good way to work their wiles on you, they took that rede that seemed best to hand: cut all adrift of these former plottings. Methinks all know well how to dissemble these redes, for few I ween may know themselves sackless if the truth come up. Now this is my rede, King, that thou take Thorolf to thee and let him be in thy bodyguard, bear thy banner, and be in the forecastle aboard thy ship: unto this is he by nature apt beyond all men else. But if thou wilt that he be a landed man, then find him revenues south in the Firths. There is all of his blood and kin. You may there have oversight of him, that he wax not over big. But give thy stewardship here in Halogaland into the hand of those men that be men of temperate mind and will with trueness serve you, and have their kin here, and their kinsmen have here before had suchlike business. We brethren shall be found both bidden and boun³ for such things as you may have the will to use us for. Our father had here long time the King’s stewardship. Well went that in his hands. ’Tis hard for you, King, to find right men to set over your affairs here, sith here may you but seldom come yourself. Here is little main of land, that you should fare here with your host; and scarce will you do thus again, to fare hither with few folk, seeing that here is much untrustworthy people.”

The King waxed exceeding wroth with this talk, and spake yet quietly, as was ever the wont of him whenso he heard such tidings as were of great matter. He asked then, whether was Thorolf at home in Torgar.

Harek said that there was no hope of this. “Thorolf is so well knowing, that he would have the wit to be out of the way of your host, King; for he would look for this, that they should not all hold their tongues so well as that thou, King, shouldst not be made ware of these tidings. Fared he north to Alost straightway when he heard tell that you were on your way from the north.” The King spake little of these tidings before men; yet was that found, that he would put fast trust in those words that had been spoke to him.

And now fared the King on his journey. Hildirid’s sons led him forth in worthy wise with gifts, but he promised them his friendship. Those brethren gave out that they had an errand into Naumdale, and fared so in a round with the King that they fell in with him at every other while. Alway he took well with their talk.

CHAPTER XIII. OF THOROLF’S SENDING OF THE SCAT TO KING HARALD AND GIFTS THEREWITH.

THERE was a man named Thorgils the Yeller. He was a homeman of Thorolf’s and was had of him in the most esteem of all his housecarles. He had followed Thorolf then when he was a-viking. Then was he his forecastle-man and his banner-bearer. Thorgils had been at Hafrsfirth in the host of King Harald, and was skipper there of that ship which Thorolf had, the same he had had a-viking. Thorgils was a mighty man of his hands and the greatest man of valour. The King had bestowed on him gifts of friendship after the battle and promised him his friendship. Thorgils was overseer of the household at Torgar when Thorolf was not at home. Thorgils had then the ruling there. But when Thorolf had fared from home, then had he gotten together the Finn-scat, even all that which he had had from the fell and which was the King’s, and made it over into the hands of Thorgils, and bade him bring it to the King, if himself came not home afore that the King should fare from the north and southaway.

Thorgils arrayed a ship of burden,¹ a great and a good, that Thorolf had, and bare aboard of her the scat, and had near twenty men: sailed south after the King and found him in Naumdale. But when Thorgils came to see the King, then bare he to the King Thorolf’s greetings, and said that he fared there with the Finn-scat, that Thorolf sent unto the King. The King looked upon him and answereth nought, and men saw that he was wroth.

Then Thorgils gat him gone, and thought to find a better season to have speech with the King. He came to see Oliver Hnufa and said unto him all as it had befallen, and asked if he knew aught of what was toward.

“I know not that,” said he. “But this have I found, that the King falleth silent every while that Thorolf is spoke of, ever since we were in Leka; and I misdoubt me therefore lest he be slandered. That know I of Hildirid’s sons, that they be in long privy talkings with the King, and that is easy-found in the words of them, that they be unfriends of Thorolf s. But I will shortly find out all this from the King.”

Thereafter fared Oliver to see the King, and spake: “Thorgils the Yeller is hither come, your friend, with that scat that is come out of Finnmark and is yours; and the scat is far greater than hath aforetime been, and of far better wares. There is haste upon him of his journey. Do so well, King, as go and see, for sure none shall ever have seen such good grey-wares”.²

The King answereth him not, and yet went thither where the ship was laid. Thorgils brake bulk straightway of the wares and showed them to the King. But when the King saw that it was true that the scat was far greater and better than had aforetime been, then smoothed was his brow somewhat, and then might Thorgils hold speech with him. He brought the King some beaver-skins³ that Thorolf sent him, and more costly treasures besides that he had gotten on the fell. The King was then glad of himself and asked what had befallen to tell of in the farings of Thorolf and his men. Thorgils told him clearly of all that. Then spake the King: “Great scathe is that, whereas Thorolf will not be true to me, but will fain be my banesman”.

Then many that were by, and all with one accord, answered and said that here must be some slander of ill men, if such-like things were said to the King, but Thorolf must be held guiltless of such things. It came to this, that the King said he would liever trow it to be as they now said. Then was the King light in all his talk with Thorgils, and they parted well agreed.

But when Thorgils saw Thorolf he said unto him all this, even as it had fared.

CHAPTER XIV. OF THOROLF’s SECOND FARING INTO FINNMARK.

THOROLF fared that winter yet again to the Mark, and had with him near a hundred men. And now fared he like as in that former winter: had a cheaping-fair with the Finns and fared wide about the Mark. But when he sought farther east, and news spread there of his farings, then came Kvens¹ to him and said that they were sent unto him, and that that was done of Faravid, the king of Kvenland: said that Kirials² harried in his land, and he sent word to this intent, that Thorolf should fare thither and give him help. There was this too in his word-sending, that Thorolf should have even shares with the king, and every man of his should have as much as three Kvens. Now that was their law of the Kvens, that the king should have of the booty shared with the men of his host one-third part, and, over and above that, to his own sole use, all beaver-skins and sables and miniveres. Thorolf laid this before the men of his host and bade them choose which it should be, go or no: but that was the choice of most, to take that hazard wherein lay so great fee to be gained, and the end of their redetaking was that they fared east with the messengers.

Finnmark is wide exceedingly. The main sea goeth by the west thereof, and from it big firths; so likewise by the north and all east-about; but south thereof is Norway, and the Mark taketh well nigh all the inland region southaway, even as Halogaland the coast-lands. Now east from Naumdale is Jamtaland, and then Helsingland, then Kvenland, then Finnland, then Kirialaland: but Finnmark lieth back beyond all these lands, and there be wide fell-settlements up in the Mark, some in the dales, and some by the waters’ side. In Finnmark be waters wondrous big, and there by the waters’ side big mark-lands, but high fells lie aback from end to end of the Mark, and that is called the Keel.³

Now when Thorolf came east to Kvenland and was met with King Faravid, then make they ready for their journey and had three hundred men, and the Northmen the fourth hundred, and fared the upper way about Finnmark and came forth there where the Kirials were on the fell, the same which had aforetime harried the Kvens. But when these were ware of unpeace toward, they gathered together and fared forth to meet it: they looked for victory, like as before. But when they fell to battle, the Northmen went hard forward. They had shields withal trustier than had the Kvens. And now turned it to man-fall in the host of the Kirials: much people fell of them but some fled. King Faravid and Thorolf took fee there past all telling: turned back to Kvenland, and after that fared Thorolf and his folk to the Mark. He and King Faravid parted with friendship.

Thorolf came down from the fell into Vefsnir: fared then first to his own place, to Sandness: there tarried awhile: fared from the north about spring-time with his folk to Torgar. But when he came there it was said to him how Hildirid’s sons had been that winter in Thrandheim with King Harald, and this withal, that they had not spared to slander Thorolf to the King. There was much said to Thorolf hereof, what manner of stuff they had to their slander. Thorolf answered thus: “The King will not believe it, though such lies be borne up before him (seeing that there is no matter in it), that I should bewray him: for he hath in many a thing done great good to me, and in no thing done me ill. And so far is it from me, that I should will to do him a hurt, though I had the choice, that I had much rather be landed man of his than be called king, when there might be another, mine own countryman, one that might make me his thrall if he would”.

CHAPTER XV. OF MORE LIES AND SLANDERS OF THOSE SONS OF HILDIRID.

HILDIRID’S sons had been that winter with Harald the King and had with them homemen of theirs and neighbours. Those brethren were oft a-talking with the King, and drave still o’ the same road with Thorolf’s case.

Harek asked: “Liked you well of the Finn-scat, King, that Thorolf sent you?”

“Well,” said the King.

“Then should you have found matter indeed,” saith Harek, “if you had had all that which was yours of right: but now it fares far otherwise. Much the greatest part it was that Thorolf kept for himself. He sent you for a gift three beaver-skins; yet I know for a truth that he kept back thirty of them, that were yours of right, and well I think it must have fared on such wise with other things. Sooth it is, King, if thou give the stewardship into the hand of us brethren, we shall fetch you more fee.”

Now unto all this they said against Thorolf did the men of their company bear witness with them. And so it came about that the King was of the wrathfullest.

CHAPTER XVI. OF THOROLF KVELDULFSON AND THE KING.

THOROLF fared that summer south to Thrandheim to see Harald the King, and had there along with him all the scat and much fee beside and ninety men and all well arrayed. But when he came to the King then was place made for them in the guest-hall and entertainment done them of the noblest. Afterward the same day goeth Oliver Hnufa to Thorolf his kinsman. They talked together. Oliver said that Thorolf was then much evil spoke of, and that the King gave ear to such stories. Thorolf bade Oliver take up his case for him with the King; “Because I”, said he, “am like to be short-spoken before the King, if he will rather believe slander of wicked men than true things and singleness such as he may approve in me”.

Another day came Oliver to find Thorolf and said that he had talked of his case with the King. “I know not now,” said he, “no whit better than afore, what he hath in his mind.”

“Then shall I myself go to him,” saith Thorolf.

He did so: went to the King when he sat at meat; and when he came in he hailed the King. The King took his greeting and bade give Thorolf to drink. Thorolf said that he had there the scat which was the King’s, which was come from Finnmark; “And yet more things have I for gifts of remembrance¹ unto you, King, that I have to bring to you. I know that all will best betide me in these things that I have done to do you pleasure”.

The King saith that nought might he look for from Thorolf save good only, “Seeing that nought else”, saith he, “am I deserving of. And yet men’s speech goeth somewhat two ways about this, how far thou art apt to give heed to what shall like me”.

“I am not truly spoke of”, saith Thorolf, “if any say that, that I have shown me untrue to you, King. Well I think that they must be thy friends less than I, they that have borne up such tales before thee. But this much is clear, that they must mean to be unfriends unto me-ward, full and perfect: and that is likeliest, too, that they shall get that they came to market for,² if we shall have the settling of it, I and they.”

Therewith Thorolf gat him gone.

Another day after this Thorolf paid the scat out of hand, and the King was stood by; and when all was paid over, Thorolf bare forth certain beaver-skins and sables: said that he will give these to the King. Many that were standing by spake and said that that was well done, and was a thing worthy of friendship: the King said Thorolf had himself portioned out his own reward. Thorolf said that he had with truth and honesty done all that he knew to pleasure the King, “And if yet it like him not, then must I find all my doing brought to naught. It was known to the King, when I was with him and in his following, what way I carried me; and that meseemeth wonderful if the King will think me now another man than the man he did then approve me for”.

The King saith, “Well didst thou fare, Thorolf, of thine haviour, when thou wast with us. And now I am minded that the best way to do of it is that thou go into my bodyguard. Take ward of my banner, and be over the other men of my bodyguard. Then may no man slander thee if I may overlook thee night and day, what way thou carriest thee”.

Thorolf looked to either hand of him. There stood his housecarles. He spake: “Loth must I be to let go from mine hand this following of mine. Thou must do as thou wilt, King, with the titles of dignity you gave me and these thy revenues, but these followers of mine may I not let go from mine hand for so long as there remaineth to me the means to keep them, though ’twere at mine own private cost. This is my boon and my wish, that you, King, should come and see me at home and hear the words of those men that thou trustest, what witness they bear me in this matter. And after that, do according as you shall find to be true”.

The King answereth and saith that he will not be feasted a second time by Thorolf.

Then Thorolf gat him gone, and therewith made ready for his journey home. But when he was gone away, then gave the King into the hand of Hildirid’s sons those stewardships in Halogaland which till now Thorolf had had, and so too the Finn-fare. The King seized to himself the house at Torgar and all the possessions that Bryniolf had owned: gave all this into the keeping of Hildirid’s sons.

The King sent men with tokens to find Thorolf and tell him of these dispositions that the King had made. And now Thorolf took those ships that were his own and bare aboard them all the loose fee that he might away with him, and had with him all his men, both freedmen and thralls. And now fared he north to Sandness to his own place. There had Thorolf no smaller throng of men and no smaller largesse.

CHAPTER XVII. OF HILDIRID’S SONS AND THEIR GATHERING OF THE FINN-SCAT, AND OF THEIR NEW LIES AND SLANDERS.

HILDIRID’S sons took up the stewardship in Halogaland. No man spake against it, because of the might of the King. But to many this change seemed much against their liking, to such as were kinsmen of Thorolf’s or friends of his.

They fared that winter to the fell, and had with them thirty men. The Finns made much less account of those bailiffs than when Thorolf fared thither. Altogether in much worse wise was that gild paid which the Finns should yield.

That same winter fared Thorolf up into the fell with a hundred men: fared straightway east to Kvenland and met with King Faravid. They took rede together, and this was their rede, to fare on the fell even as last winter; they had four hundred men, and came down into Kirialaland; fell upon the settled parts whereso they deemed it fit for the strength of men they had: harried there and gat them fee. Then fared they back, as winter wore, up into the Mark.

Thorolf fared home about spring-time to his own place. He had then men in the cod-fishing in Vagar,¹ and some in the herring-fishing, and sought all manner of provision for his household. Thorolf had a great ship: she was built for the main sea. She was wrought in all ways of the best, well painted down to the water-line; there went with her a sail streaked with stripes blue and red: all the gear was well wrought in the ship. That ship Thorolf let make ready and appointed thereto housecarles of his to fare with her: let bear aboard of her dried fish and hides and white-wares. He let go therewith much grey-wares withal, and other skin-wares that he had gotten off the fell, and that was exceeding great fee. That ship he let Thorgils the Yeller sail west to England, to buy him clothes and other provision whereof he stood in need. They held their course south along the land and after that out on the main sea and came their ways to England, found good cheaping there, loaded the ship with wheat and honey, wine and clothes, and set sail home again in the autumn. They had wind at will, and came to Hordaland.

That same autumn fared Hildirid’s sons with the scat and brought it to the King. But when they paid the scat out of hand, the King himself was by and saw it. He spake: “Is now all the scat paid out of hand, the same which ye took up in Finnmark?”

“So it is”, said they.

“Both is it now”, said the King, “that the scat yielded out of hand is much smaller and worser than when Thorolf fetched it, and ye did say that he dealt ill with the stewardship.”

“Well is that, King,” saith Harek, “that thou hast considered how great is the scat that is to be looked for to come from Finnmark; for then knowest thou more clearly how much you missed if Thorolf squandered all the Finn-scat for you. We were last winter thirty men in the Mark, even as hath aforetime been the wont of your bailiffs. Then came Thorolf there with a hundred men.² We heard that this was his word, that he was minded to take the life of us brethren and of all those men which followed us; and this the cause he found thereto, that thou, King, hadst given into our hand that stewardship which he would have. We saw that this was our best choice, to keep out of the way of him and save ourselves, and for that sake came we but a short way forth of the settled parts on the fell. But Thorolf fared through all the Mark with a host of men. He had all the cheaping: the Finns yielded unto him the scat: yea, and to this had he bounden himself, that your bailiffs should nowise come into the Mark. He hath the mind to make himself king over them in the north there both over the Mark and Halogaland; and that is a wonder, that you suffer him to gad it howsome’er he will. And here may sure witness be found of that good catch of wealth which Thorolf hath out of the Mark, inasmuch as the greatest cheaping-ship that was in Halogaland was laden last spring at Sandness, and Thorolf avowed him only owner of all the cargo that was aboard of her. Well I do think, she was near full laden with grey-wares, and there I well think should be found of beaver and sable more than that which Thorolf brought unto thee; and there fared aboard of her Thorgils the Yeller. Methinks he hath sailed west to England. But if thou wilt know the truth of this, then do you hold espial of Thorgils’s faring when he fareth east, for well I think that on no cheaping-ship hath come so great fee in our days. I deem that truest to say: that you, King, are right owner of every penny there was aboard of her.”

These things they of his company affirmed for true, every whit that Harek said. And here were none knew how to speak against it.

CHAPTER XVIII. OF THE KING’S SENDING OF TWO BRETHREN AND THEIR ROBBING OF THOROLF’S SHIP.

SIGTRYGG SHARP-FARER¹ and Hallvard Hard-farer hight two brethren. They were with King Harald, men of the Wick. Their mother’s kin came of Westfold,² and they had ties of kinship with Harald the King. Their father had his kindred on both sides of the Gaut-Elf: he had had his dwelling in Hising and was a man exceeding wealthy, and now had they taken the heritage after their father. They were four brethren, all told. One was named Thord, another Thorgeir, and these were younger: they were at home and had charge of the household.

Sigtrygg and Hallvard had the King’s errands³ of all kind, both inland and outland; and on many errands had they fared that were of perilous kind, both for the taking off of men or else for fee to be taken up from those men that the King let set upon at home. They had a great following. No good friends were they with the common sort, but the King set great store by them, and they were of all men the best goers both afoot and on snow-shoes; so too in ship-faring were they swifter than other men. Mighty men of valour were they withal, and foreseeing in most things. They were then with the King, when these tidings came about.

In the autumn the King fared a-feasting about Hordaland. That was on a day, that he let call to him those brethren, Hallvard and Sigtrygg, and when they came to him he said to them that they should fare with their following and hold espial of that ship which Thorgils the Yeller fared with, “And he had her this summer west in England. Fetch me the ship and all that is aboard of her, except men; them let ye go their ways in peace, if they will not defend the ship.”

Those brethren were all ready for this, and took his long-ship each of them; and now they fare a-looking for Thorgils and his, and had word that he was come from the west and had sailed north along the land. They fare north after them and come upon them in Firsound: speedily they knew the ship, and laid aboard of her another ship on the outer side, but some went up aland and out on to the ship by the gangways. Thorgils and his men wist not of any danger toward and kept no guard. They found out nought aford a throng of men were up aboard of the ship all weaponed, and themselves were all laid hand on and therewith led up aland weaponless, and had nought else but the clothes they stood in. But Hallvard and his cast off the gangways and let go the cable and dragged out the ship; and now turn they back the way they came, and sailed south until they found the King. They brought him the ship and all that was aboard. But when the lading was borne off the ship, then the King saw that here was great wealth, and that that was no lie⁴ that Harek had said.

But Thorgils and his fellows found them convoy, and they seek now to Kveldulf and his son, and told him of their journey, nowise smooth: yet found they there a good welcome. Kveldulf said that now would it draw toward this, even as his foreboding had been aforetime, that Thorolf would not, when all came to all, bear good hap of his friendship with Harald the King: “And it should seem to me no great matter of this loss of fee that Thorolf hath now the miss of, if now there were not a greater to come after. It misdoubts me even as before, that Thorolf will not clearly know how to see his own power, what it is beside such overmastery as he hath now to deal with”; and he bade Thorgils so say unto Thorolf “that my rede it is”, saith he, “that he fare abroad out of the land; because it may be that he shall come in better case if he seek to England’s King or to the Dane-King or to the Swede-King”.

With that, he gave Thorgils a rowing-cutter and therewith all her gear, and tilt and victual and all that they needed for their journey. Therewith fared they and ceased not from their faring till they were come north to Thorolf, and said unto him this that was befallen to tell of.

Thorolf bare well with his scathe. So said he, that he should not lack for fee: “Good it is, to lay out fee with the King for partner”.

Thereafter Thorolf bought meal and malt and what else he had need of for maintaining of his folk. He said that his housecarles would not be so showily dressed as he awhile ago had meant they should be. Thorolf sold his lands, but some he set to wed;⁵ but he held on with all his expense like as heretofore. Moreover he had then no fewer folk about him than in the former winter: rather had he somewhat more of men. And so as for feasts and home-biddings with friends of his: then had he more of all these things even than heretofore. He was at home all that winter.

CHAPTER XIX. OF THOROLF’S HARRYING IN THE WICK, AND OF COUNSEL GIVEN HIM BY KVELDULF.

NOW when spring was come and the snow began to break up and the ice, Thorolf let set forth a great long-ship that he had, and let array her and manned her with his housecarles, and had with him more than a hundred men; that was a host of the gallantest, and weaponed exceeding well. So when they had wind at will, Thorolf held south along the land with his ship, and as soon as he was come south beside Byrda then held they the outer course outside all the islands, and at whiles so as only the hill-tops showed over the sea’s bourne.¹ So they let their going be still southward off the land: they had no tidings of men till they were come east into the Wick. There they heard tell that King Harald was in the Wick, and that he was minded that summer to fare to the Uplands. Nought wist the landsmen of the faring of Thorolf.

He had a fair wind, and held south to Denmark, and thence eastaway² and harried there summer-long and had no good gain there. In the autumn he held his course from the east to Denmark at that time when is the breaking up of the Ere-fleet;³ and there had been that summer, as the wont was, a throng of ships from Norway. Thorolf let all that host sail before him, and made none ware of him. He sailed one day at evening to Most-sound, and there in the haven before him was a great round-ship come from Ere. Thorir Thruma was named the man that steered her. He was a bailiff⁴ of King Harald’s: he had rule over his house in Thruma. That was a great house: the King sat there long whiles, at such times as he was in the Wick. There needed great provision for that house. Now for this sake had Thorir fared to Ere, to buy cargo there, of malt and wheat and honey, and had laid out thereon much fee that was the King’s. They set on against the round-ship, and bade Thorir and his men choose whether to defend themselves; but, seeing that Thorir had no force to hold out against that strength of men that Thorolf had, they gave themselves up. Thorolf took that ship with all her lading, and put Thorir-up aland on the island.

Thorolf held his way then with both those ships north along the land: but when he was come off the Elf, then lay they there and waited for night; but when it was dark they rowed the long-ship up into the river and set on against that house that belonged to Hallvard and Sigtrygg. They come there before day and threw a ring of men about it: therewith they whooped the war-whoop, and those waked thereat that were within and straightway leaped up and to their weapons. Thorgeir fled out straightway out of the sleeping-bower. There was a high wood fence about the dwelling: Thorgeir leapt at the fence and grabbed hold with his hand high up on a stake of it and cast himself forth of the garth. There was stood a-nigh Thorgils the Yeller. He slashed after Thorgeir with his sword, and it came on the hand of him and took it off against the fence-stake. After that, Thorgeir ran to the woods, but Thord, his brother, was felled there, and more than twenty men.

After that, they robbed all the goods and burnt the house, and so went back again down the river to the main sea. They had a fair wind, and sailed north to the Wick. There they found fair before them a great cheaping-ship that belonged to the men of the Wick, laden with malt and meal. Thorolf and his set on against that ship, but they that were on board thought they had no means to hold out against them, and gave themselves up. They went up aland weaponless. But Thorolf and his took the ship with her cargo, and went their ways.

Thorolf had then three ships when he sailed from the east about the Fold. So sailed they by the highway to Lidandisness; fared then at their speediest, but lifted ness-liftings whereso they came and hewed them strand-hewings. But when they sailed north from Lidandisness they fared more on the outer course. Still, wheresoever they came nigh land then robbed they.

But when Thorolf was come north off the Firths, then turned he in from his way and went to see Kveldulf his father and found there a good welcome. Thorolf said to his father what tidings had befallen in his faring that summer. Thorolf tarried there a little while, and Kveldulf and Grim led him down to his ship. But before they parted they talked together. Said Kveldulf: “Not far from that hath it fared, Thorolf, even that which I said to thee then when thou wentest into the bodyguard of Harald the King: that it should so turn out for thee as that neither unto thee nor unto us thy kinsfolk should good luck betide from it. Thou hast now taken to that rede that I warned thee most against, to pit thyself against Harald the King; and for all thou be well furnished of valour and of all prowess yet hast thou not the gift for this, to hold thine own against Harald the King: a thing that hath been given in the end to no man here in the land, had he never so great power aforetime and throng of men. And now my mind forebodeth me that this may fall to be our last meeting together. That were the right way of it (for our ages’ sake), that of us twain thou shouldst live the longer. But another way I am apt to think it shall come about”.

Now stepped Thorolf aboard of his ship and departed on his ways. Nought is said of his journey to tell of until he came home to Sandness, and let flit to his house all that spoil of war that he had had home with him, and let lay up the ships. He had then no scant of provision to feed his folk through the winter. Thorolf sat at home all this while, and had a throng of men no smaller than the winters before.

CHAPTER XX. OF SKALLAGRIM’S WEDDING.

THERE was a man named Yngvar, powerful and wealthy. He had been landed man unto the former kings, but since Harald was come into kingdom, Yngvar sat at home and served not the King. Yngvar was a married man and had a daughter that was named Bera. Yngvar dwelt in the Firths. Bera was his only child,¹ and stood to take the heritage after him.

Grim Kveldulfson sought the hand of Bera, and that matter was settled betwixt them. Grim gat Bera to wife that same winter after their parting with Thorolf the summer before. Grim was then twenty-five years of age, and was bald-headed:² from thenceforth was he called Skallagrim. He had then the overseeing over all the household of him and his father and all the supply thereof; howbeit Kveldulf was a hale man and a well able. A mort of freedmen had they about them, and many men withal that had grown up at home there and were nigh of an age with Skallagrim. They were mostly men of great prowess and strength, because Kveldulf and his sons carefully picked out men of strength to follow them, and broke them in to their own bent of mind.

Skallagrim was like his father in growth and strength, and so too in outward seeming and in bent of mind.

CHAPTER XXI. OF REDE TAKEN FOR AN ONSET AGAINST THOROLF.

HARALD the King was in the Wick when Thorolf was a-harrying. He fared in the autumn to the Uplands and thence north to Thrandheim, and sat there for the winter and had great throng of men.

Then were Sigtrygg and Hallvard with the King, and had heard tell what way Thorolf had put in order their abode in Hising, and what man-scathe and fee-scathe he had there wrought them. They minded the King oft of that, and moreover of this too, that Thorolf had robbed the King and his thanes, and had fared with harrying there within the land. They prayed leave of the King that they two brethren should fare with that band which was wont to follow them and set upon Thorolf in his home.

The King answereth thus: “Well may ye think ye have cause thereto, though ye should rid Thorolf of his life; and yet methinks ye come greatly short of the luck to carry this work. Thorolf is no make of yours, albeit ye think you to be men of valour and of doughty deeds”.

Those brethren said that this would soon be proven, if the King will give them leave therefor: they say, withal, that they have oft put themselves in great hazard with men in whose affairs they had less to avenge them of, and oftenest had they gotten the victory.

Now when it began to be spring, then men made them ready for their farings. Then was it even as aforesaid, that Hallvard and his brother held yet by their prayer, that they may go to Thorolf and take his life. He said he would give them leave for this, to take Thorolf’s life, “And I wot, ye may bring me his head when ye come back again, and many costly treasures besides. And yet ’tis the guess of some men,” saith the King, “if ye sail north, that from the north ye are like both to sail and to row”.

Now they make them ready at their swiftest, and had two ships and a hundred and eighty men, and when they were ready they stood out down the firth with a north-east wind. But that is a head-wind going north along the land.

CHAPTER XXII. THE FALL OF THOROLF KVELDULFSON.

HARALD the King sate then at Hladir when Hallvard and his folk set forth. And straightway, with a like speed the King made him ready at his swiftest and went ashipboard, and they rowed in along the firth by Skarnsound, and so by Beitsea inland to Elda-eid.¹ He left the ship behind there, and fared north across the neck to Naumdale; there took he long-ships that the bonders had and gat him ashipboard with his folk: he had his bodyguard and nigh three hundred men. He had five ships or six, and all big.

They had a sharp head-wind and rowed night and day as fast as they might go. Night was then light for travelling. They came at eventide to Sandness after sundown, and saw there before the house a great long-ship a-floating, with her tilt rigged. They knew her for that ship which Thorolf owned; he had let array her, and was minded to fare abroad out of the land; and even then had he let brew his parting-ale.

The King bade his men go ashore from the ships, every man of them. He let set up his banner. It was but a short way to go to the house; moreover Thorolf’s watchmen sat within-door a-drinking and were not gone to set the watch, and there was not any man without: all the folk sat within-door a-drinking. The King let throw a ring of men about the hall. Then set they up the war-whoop, and in the King’s trumpet was blown the war-blast. But when Thorolf and his hear that, they leapt to their weapons, for every man’s weapons hung all at hand over his seat.

The King let call to them in the hall and bade go out² women and young men and old men and thralls and bondmen. And now went out Sigrid the housewife, and with her those women that were within-door and those other men that were given leave to go out.

Sigrid asked if they were there, those sons of Berdla-Kari. They stood forth both, and asked what she would have of them. “Bring me to the King,” said she.

They did so. But when she was come to the King, then asked she, “Shall it aught avail to seek for atonement, Lord, betwixt you and Thorolf?”

The King answereth: “So Thorolf will give himself up into my power to be forgiven, he shall hold by life and limb. But his men must abide punishment for whatso things they shall be found guilty of”.

After that, went Oliver Hnufa to the hall and let call Thorolf to speech with him. He said unto him that choice which the King gave him. Thorolf answereth: “Nought of forced atonement will I take of the King. Bid thou the King to give us way out: then let things shake out as fate hath shapen”.

Oliver gat him to the King and said what Thorolf bade for himself.

The King said, “Bear fire to the hall. I will not fight with them and have hurt of my folk. I wot that Thorolf will do us great man-scathe if we shall go seek him there, where it must be slow work to win in at him, albeit he hath fewer folk than we”.

Therewith was fire borne to the hall, and that took swiftly, for the timber was dry and the woodwork tarred, and it was thatched with birch-bark about the roof. Thorolf bade his men break up the wainscot that was betwixt hall and fore-hall, and that was swiftly gotten done; but when they gat the beam, then took hold on the one beam as many men as might fasten a hold on it, and drave with the other end against the corner so hard that the nave-rings burst off of the outer side and the walls sprang asunder, so as there was a great way out.

There gat Thorolf out the first, and then Thorgils the Yeller, and so each after other. Then it came to battle; and so it was for a while, that the hall guarded the backs of Thorolf and his folk; but when that took to burning, then came the fire against them. There fell then much of their folk.

Then leapt Thorolf forth and hewed on either hand: set on thitherward where the King’s banner was. Then fell Thorgils the Yeller. But when Thorolf came forth so far as the shieldburg,³ he laid his sword through that man that bare the banner. Then spake Thorolf: “Now come I three feet short”. There stood in him then both sword and spear, but the King himself dealt him his bane-wound, and Thorolf fell forward at the feet of the King.

Then called out the King and bade give over slaying of more men; and it was so done. And now the King bade his men go down to the ships. He spake with Oliver and his brother: “Take now Thorolf your kinsman and do him lyke-help, and so with the other men that here be fallen, and give them burial; and let bind the wounds of men, of them that have hope of life. And there shall be no robbing here, sith all this fee is mine”.

Therewith the King gat him down to the ships and the most of his people along with him, but when they were come ashipboard then took men to binding of their wounds. The King walked about the ship and looked to the wounds of men. He saw where a man was a-binding of a wound that was gotten of a glancing blow. The King said that ’twas not Thorolf dealt that wound: “All another way did weapons bite for him. Few, I think, might bind up those wounds that he gave. And great scathe it is, the loss of such men as he”.

Now forthwith at morning of day the King let draw up his sail and sailed south with all speed. But as day drew on, the King and his folk found many rowing-ships in every island-sound; and those folk had been minded to join with Thorolf, for he had had espial holden all southaway in Naumdale and wide about the isles. It had been made known to them that Hallvard and his brother were come from the south with a great force, and meant to set upon Thorolf. Hallvard and his had ever a head-wind, and they had tarried in every haven, until news of them had fared up about the land; and of this had Thorolf’s espiers been made ware, and for this cause had that war-rush come about.

The King sailed before a strong fair wind until he was come to Naumdale: left there his ships behind him, but he fared the overland way to Thrandheim. He took there his ships that he had left behind there, and so held his course with his folk out to Hladir.

These tidings were soon noised abroad, and came to the ears of Hallvard and his where they lay. They turned back then to join the King, and their journey was thought somewhat to be laughed at.

Those brethren, Oliver Hnufa and Eyvind Lambi, tarried awhile at Sandness. They let deal with the slain that there were fallen. They did with Thorolf’s body after the accustomed way, like as it was fit to do with the bodies of men of worship; set up standing stones for him. They let heal the sick men. They set in order the household, too, with Sigrid. There was left all the stock, but the household furniture and table-array and the clothes of men had for the most part been burnt up.

Now when those brethren were ready, they fared from the north and came to find Harald the King, in Thrandheim where he was, and were with him awhile. They were silent and spake little with men. So it was, upon a day, that those brethren went before the King. Then spake Oliver: “This leave will we two brethren ask of you, King, that you give us leave to fare home to our own place, sith here hath such things betided as we have not the heart to drink and sit at board with those men which bore weapon against Thorolf our kinsman”.

The King looked at him and answereth somewhat short: “I shall not give you leave for this. Here shall you bide, with me”.

Those brethren gat them gone and back to their seats.

The next day after, the King sate in his council-hall: let call thither Oliver and his brother. “Now shall ye two know,” saith the King, “touching that errand ye had with me, and prayed to go home. You have been here awhile with me and been well behaved. Ye have done well always. In all things I have been well pleased with you. Now it is my will, Eyvind, that thou fare north to Halogaland. I will give thee Sigrid in Sandness, that woman whom Thorolf had to wife. I will give thee all that fee that Thorolf owned. Thou shalt have therewith my friendship, if thou knowest how to keep it. But Oliver shall follow me. I will not let him go, for the sake of the skill that is his.”

Those brethren thanked the King for that honour that he did them: said they would take that right gladly. Then Eyvind made ready for his journey: gat him a good ship that served his turn. The King gave him his tokens for this business. Well sped Eyvind of his journey, and came up north to Sandness in Alost. Sigrid took well with them. And now Eyvind bare forward the tokens of the King and his errand unto Sigrid, and began his wooing of her: said that this was the King’s word-sending, that Eyvind should gain that suit. But Sigrid saw she had but this only choice, as it was now come about, to let the King rule herein. So went that rede forward, that Eyvind gat Sigrid to wife. He took to him then the household at Sandness and all that fee that Thorolf had had.

Eyvind was a worshipful man. The children of him and Sigrid were Finn Skialg, the father of Eyvind Skaldspiller,⁴ and Geirlaug that Sighvat the Red had to wife. Finn Skialg had to wife Gunnhild, the daughter of Earl Halfdan: her mother was named Ingibiorg, daughter of King Harald Hairfair.

Eyvind Lambi held himself in friendship with King Harald whiles they both were alive.

CHAPTER XXIII. THE SLAYING OF HILDIRID’S SONS.

THERE was a man named Ketil Haeng, son of Thorkel the Naumdale Earl and of Hrafnhild, daughter of Ketil Haeng of Hrafnista. Haeng was a worshipful man and a man of mark. He had been the greatest friend of Thorolf Kveldulfson and his near kinsman. He was then in that rush to arms when the host-gathering was in Halogaland and men were minded to give aid to Thorolf, as was afore-writ. But when King Harald fared from the north and men were made aware of Thorolf’s taking off, then broke they up their gathering.

Haeng had with him sixty men, and he turned toward Torgar. And there were Hildirid’s sons, and had few in their following. And when Haeng came to the house, he made an onslaught upon them. There fell Hildirid’s sons¹ and most of their men that were there, but Haeng and his took all the fee they might lay hand on.

After that, Haeng took two round-ships, the biggest he might find: let bear aboard of them all the fee he owned and might come away with. He had with him his wife and children, besides all those men who had been at this work with him. There was a man named Baug, Haeng’s fosterbrother, a high-born man and a wealthy. He steered one of the round-ships. So when they were ready and a fair breeze blew, then sailed they out into the main.

A few winters before had Ingolf and Hiorleif² gone to settle Iceland, and that journey was then much in the talk of men: men said there was right good choice of land there. Haeng sailed west into the main and sought toward Iceland. Now when they were ware of land they were come upon it from the south; and because the gale was fierce, and surf along the land, and nought harbour-like, they sailed west along the land off the sands. But when the gale began to fall and the surf to abate, then was a great river-mouth before them, and they held on there with their ships up into the river and laid them aland on the eastern bank. That river is named now Thursowater: ran then much narrower and was deeper than now it is.³

They unladed the ships: took then and kenned the land from the east along the river and flitted after them their livestock. Haeng was, for the first winter, in the country out beyond the outer Rangriver; but in the spring he kenned the land eastward, and took then land between Thursowater and Markfleet, between fell and foreshore, and dwelt at Hof beside the eastern Rangriver. Ingunn his wife bare a child in the spring, after they had been there their first winter, and the boy was named Hrafn. And when the houses there were pulled down, then was the place called thereafter Hrafntofts.

Haeng gave Baug land in Fleetlithe down from Markriver to the river out beyond Broadlairstead, and he dwelt at Lithend;⁴ and from Baug is come a great line of kindred in that countryside.

Haeng gave land to his shipmates, but sold to some for a little price, and they are called land-take men.⁵

Storolf was named a son of Haeng: he had the Knoll and Storolfsfield. His son was Worm the Strong.

Heriolf was named the second son of Haeng: he had land in Fleetlithe marching with Baug, and out as far as Knollslech. He lived under the Brents. His son was Summerlid, father of Weatherlid the skald.⁶

Helgi was the third son of Haeng. He dwelt at the Field, and had land as far as the upper Rangriver and down to march with his brethren’s.

Vestar was named the fourth son of Haeng. He had land to the east of Rangriver, betwixt that and Thwartwater, and the lower part of Storolfsfield. He had to wife Moeid, daughter of Hildir of Hildisey. Their daughter was Asny, whom Ofeig Grettir had to wife. Vestar dwelt at Moeidsknoll.

Hrafn was the fifth of Haeng’s sons. He was the first Speaker of the Law⁷ in Iceland. He dwelt at Hof after his father. Thorlaug was Hrafn’s daughter, whom Jorund the Priest had to wife. Their son was Valgard of Hof. Hrafn was the worship-fullest of the sons of Haeng.

CHAPTER XXIV. THE SORROW OF KVELDULF.

KVELDULF heard tell of the fall of Thorolf his son. He became sorrowful with these tidings, so that he laid him in his bed, for grief and old age. Skallagrim came often to him and talked to him: bade him arouse himself: said that all things else were fitter than this, to come to utter worthlessness and lie bed-ridden: “That rather should be our rede, to look for vengeance after Thorolf. May be, that we may come at some of those men that have been at Thorolf’s fall. And if not that, then will there be men, whom we may catch, that the King shall think it much against his liking”.

Kveldulf quoth a stave:¹

News from a northern island:

(The Norns are grim!) too early

The Thunder-Lord hath chose him:

Thorolf lieth low now.

Nought swift, for all I strive for’t,

Nought swift will be the ’venging:

By thowless eld enthralled I’m bann’d

From Thing of Odin’s shield-mays.

Harald the King fared that summer to the Uplands, and fared in the autumn west to Valdres and all up to Vors. Oliver Hnufa was with the King, and came oft to speech with the King, if he would be willing to pay boot² for Thorolf: bestow on Kveldulf and Skallagrim money-boot or some such manly gift as they might be content with. The King did not wholly warn him off from this, if that father and son would come and see him.

And now Oliver started on his journey north into the Firths: stayed not till he came at fall of day to that father and son. They took to him in thankful wise: tarried he there some while.

Kveldulf asked Oliver carefully about those doings that had come about at Sandness when Thorolf fell, of this too, what Thorolf had framed to do before he fell; and this, who bare weapons upon him, and where he had the greatest wounds, and what way his fall was. Oliver said to him all that he asked; this too, that King Harald dealt him that wound that should alone have been enough and more to be the bane of him, and that Thorolf fell nigh upon the feet of the King face downward. Then answereth Kveldulf: “Well hast thou said. For that have men spoken of old, that of that man will be vengeance who fell face downward, and nigh to him will the vengeance come who was in the way of him when he fell. But unlikely it is that unto us should that good luck be fated”.

Oliver said to that father and son that he had hope if they would go and see the King, and seek atonement, that that might turn out an honourable journey, and bade them make hazard of this, and laid many words thereto.

Kveldulf said that he was nought fit for that, for eld’s sake. “I will bide at home,” said he.

“Wilt thou go, Grim?” said Oliver.

“I think this is no errand of mine,” said Grim. “I shall seem to the King nought ready of word. I think I should not stand long bidding atonement of him.”

Oliver said that he should have no need of that: “We shall speak all on thy behalf, so well as we know how”.

And what with Oliver’s much pressing of his suit, Grim promised that he would go on this journey soon as he should deem him ready. He and Oliver fixed a time between them when Grim should come to meet with the King. Fared then Oliver first away, and to the King.

CHAPTER XXV. OF SKALLAGRIM’S GOING TO THE KING.

SKALLAGRIM made him ready for that journey that was aforesaid. He picked him men of his homemen and neighbours, them that were strongest of might bodily and doughtiest of those that were to hand. One man was named Ani, a wealthy bonder: another named Grani: the third Grimolf, and Grim, his brother, homemen of Skallagrim’s, and those brethren Thorbiorn Krumm and Thord Beigaldi. They were called Thorarna’s sons. She dwelt a short way from Skallagrim’s and was learned in wizardry:¹ Beigaldi was a sit-by-the-fire.² One man was named Thorir the Giant and his brother Thorgeir Jardlang: a man named Odd Live-alone; Griss the Freedman. Twelve were they for that journey, and all the strongest men, and many shape-strong.

They had a rowing-ferry that belonged to Skallagrim: fared south along the land: laid their course in into Osterfirth: fared then the land-way up to Vors, to that water which is there, and their road so lay that they must fare over it. They got them a rowing-ship, such as served their turn; and so rowed over the water. And then was it no long way to that farmstead where the King was a-feasting.

Grim and his came there at that hour when the King was gone to table. Grim and his found men to speak to out in the garth,³ and asked what tidings were there; and when that was told them, then Grim bade call to speak with him Oliver Hnufa. That man went into the hall and thither where Oliver sat, and said to him: “Men be here come, outside, twelve together, if men you shall call them. But liker be they to giants in growth and seeming, than to mortal men”.

Oliver stood up straightway and went out. He thought he knew who would be come. Welcomed he well Grim his kinsman, and bade him go in into the hall with him. Grim said to his fellows: “That will here be the way of it, that men go weaponless before the King. We shall go in, six, but other six shall be without and mind our weapons”.

And now go they in. Oliver went before the King. Skallagrim stood at the back of him. Oliver took up the word: “Now is Grim hither come, the son of Kveldulf. We shall now take great joy of it, King, if you make his journey hither a good one, even as we hope it will be. Many be they that have of you great honour that are less fit for it than he, and that are nought near so well gifted in all feats of mastery as he will be. And thou mayest so do this, King, which is a thing I myself set most store by, if that is aught to thee”.

Oliver spake long and readily, for he was a man apt of word. Many other friends of Oliver’s went before the King and pushed this suit.

The King looked about him. He saw that a man stood at the back of Oliver and was by a head taller than other men, and bald. “Is that he, Skallagrim?” said the King: “The big man?”

Grim said that he guessed aright.

“I will, then,” said the King, “if thou biddest boot for Thorolf, that thou become my man, and go here into the lay of my bodyguard, and serve me. May be it shall like me so well of thy service, that I shall bestow on thee atonement after thy brother, or other honour, no smaller than I bestowed on him, on Thorolf thy brother; and thou must know better how to keep it than he did, if I make thee so great a man as he was become.”

Skallagrim answereth: “That was known, how greatly Thorolf was beyond what I am in all that belonged to him, and no good hap bare he of his serving thee, King. Now will I not take that rede. I will not serve thee; for I know that I shall not bear that good hap in doing thee service, that I should wish for and worthy were. I think that in more things should I be found wanting than was Thorolf”.

The King was silent, and was set blood-red to look upon.

Oliver turned straight away and bade Grim and his go out. They did so: went out, and took their weapons. Oliver bade them fare away at their swiftest. Oliver went on their way with them as far as the water, and a many men with him. Before he and Skallagrim parted, Oliver spake: “Another way turned out thy faring to the King, kinsman Grim, than I would choose. Much I urged thy coming hither, and now will I pray this, that thou fare home at thy speediest: and this withal, that thou come not to see King Harald unless there be better agreement betwixt you than meseemeth now things turn toward. And guard thee well against the King, and against his men”.

And now fared Grim and his over the water, but Oliver and his folk went where those ships were that were drawn up aland by the water-side, and hewed them so that they were not seaworthy: because they saw faring of men down from the King’s house: they were many men together, and much weaponed, and fared hastily. Those men had King Harald sent after them for this, to slay Grim.

The King had taken up the word a little after Grim and his had gone out: said as thus: “That see I in that great bald-head, that he is choke-full of wolfishness, and needs must he do a hurt to some of those men that we should feel the loss of, if he catch them. You may make up your minds for this, you men whom he may reckon he hath some quarrel against, that that bald-head will spare no single man of you if he but come across you. Fare then now after him, and slay him”.

Therewith fared they, and came to the water and found there not a ship that was sea-worthy. So now fared they back again, and said to the King of their journey, and that too, that Grim and his should by then be gotten over the water.

Skallagrim went his ways with his company till he came home. Skallagrim said unto Kveldulf of their journey. Kveldulf deemed well of it that Grim had not fared on this errand to the King to go under the hand of him; said too, as aforetime, that there would befall them from the King scathe only and no upholding.

Kveldulf and Skallagrim talked oft of what counsel they should take, and that came always to an agreement betwixt them: so said, that they might in no wise be there in the land, no more than other men, such as were out of atonement with the King; and that this should be their rede, to fare abroad out of the land. And they thought that a thing to be desired, to seek to Iceland, because it was then well spoken of for the choice of land there. Thither were by then come friends of theirs and folk of their knowing, Ingolf Arnarson and his fellows, and had taken choice of land there and taken up their dwelling in Iceland. Men might there take to themselves land unboughten, and pick their dwelling-place. That was firmest set in their rede-taking, that they would break up their household and fare abroad out of the land.

Thorir Hroaldson⁴ had been in his childhood’s days at fostering with Kveldulf, and he and Skallagrim were much of an age: there was dear love there in that fosterbrotherhood. Thorir was become landed man unto the King when these things betided: but the friendship betwixt him and Skallagrim held fast always.

Early in the spring Kveldulf and his folk made ready their ships. They had great choice of ships, and good: made ready two great round-ships⁵ and had aboard each thirty men, of them that were fit for fighting, and, over and above these, women and young folk. They had with them all their loose goods that they might come away with. But their lands durst no man buy, because of the King’s might. So when they were ready, then sailed they away. They sailed to those islands that are named the Solunds:⁶ these be many islands and big, and so much shorn with bays that it is said that there will few men know all the havens.

CHAPTER XXVI. OF THE CHILDREN OF DUKE GUTTHORM.

GUTTHORM¹ was the name of a man, son of Sigurd Hart. He was mother’s brother of Harald the King. He was fosterfather of the King and governor over his land, for the King was then in his childhood when first he came to power. Gutthorm was war-duke of the host of Harald the King then when he won the land under him; and he was in all the battles that the King had when he gat unto him the land of Norway. But when Harald was become sole King over all the land, and sat him down in quiet, then gave he unto Gutthorm his kinsman Westfold and East Agdir and Ring-realm and all that land that had belonged to Halfdan the Black, his father.

Gutthorm had two sons and two daughters. His sons were named Sigurd and Ragnar, and his daughters Ragnhild and Aslaug.

Gutthorm took a sickness, and when it grew heavy on him, then sent he men to find Harald the King and prayed him see to his children and his realm. A little after, he died. But when the King heard of his death, then let he call to him Hallvard Hardfarer, him and his brother: said that they must fare on a sending of his east into the Wick. The King was then stopping in Thrandheim.

Those brethren made them ready for their journey in stateliest wise: picked their host and had the best ship they might get. That ship they had which had been Thorolf Kveldulfson’s, and they had taken from Thorgils the Yeller. But when they were ready for their journey, then said the King unto them their errand, that they must fare east to Tunsberg.² There was then a cheaping-stead: there had Gutthorm had his seat.

“You shall”, said the King, “fetch me the sons of Gutthorm, but his daughters shall be bred up there until I give them in marriage. I shall find men to take ward of the realm and to give fostering to the maidens.”

So when those brethren were ready, then fare they on their way, and had wind at will. They came in the spring-time into the Wick, east to Tunsberg, and there bare forward their errand. Hallvard and his take up the sons of Gutthorm and much of loose goods. Fare they then, when they are ready, on their way back. They were somewhat later then in getting a fair wind, but there befell nought to tell of in their journey until they were a-sailing north of the Sogn-sea, with a good breeze and bright weather, and were then all merry.

CHAPTER XXVII. THE SLAYING OF HALLVARD AND SIGTRYGG: AND HOW KVELDULF AND SKALLAGRIM FARED TO ICELAND.

KVELDULF and Skallagrim and their folk held espial all the summer in along the highway of the sea. Skallagrim was of all men the keenest sighted: he saw the sailing of Hallvard and his and knew the ship, for he had seen that ship before, when Thorgils fared with her. Skallagrim kept watch on their faring, where they laid her in haven at eventide; and now fareth he back to his folk and saith to Kveldulf that which he had seen, and that, too, that he had known the ship for that which Hallvard and his men had taken from Thorgils, and had been Thorolf s, and that there would be some of those men along with her who should make them good hunting.

So now make they ready, and make ready both the boats, and had twenty men aboard of each: Kveldulf steered one, and the other Skallagrim. Row they now, and look for the ship; but when they come there where the ship lay, then put they in to land.

Hallvard and his had tilted their ship and had then laid them down to sleep; but when Kveldulf and his came at them, then leapt up the watchmen that sat by the gangway head, and called out to the ship: bade men stand up: said that unpeace was come upon them. Hallvard and his leapt to their weapons. But when Kveldulf and his came to the gangway head,¹ then went he out on the stern gangway, but Skallagrim went on the fore gangway. Kveldulf had in his hand a byrny-troll.² But when he was come aboard the ship then bade he his men go on the outer side along the gunwale and hew the tilt out of its props, but himself raged aft towards the poop; and so it is said, that there he ran berserk, and many were they of his company that then ran berserk. They slew all those men that came in the way of them; in like same manner wrought Skallagrim, whereso he went upon the ship. That father and son slacked not until the ship was cleared.

But when Kveldulf came aft to the poop, he swung aloft the byrny-troll and hewed at Hallvard through helm and head, and it sank all in to the shaft: wrenched he it then so hard towards him that he bare Hallvard up in the air and slung him overboard.

Skallagrim cleared the fore-stem and slew Sigtrygg: a mort of men leapt into the water, but Skallagrim’s men took the boat that they had thither had and rowed to them and slew all them that were swimming: there perished of Hallvard’s men, in all, more than fifty men, but Skallagrim and his took the ship that Hallvard and his had had thither, and all the fee that was aboard her.

They laid hand on two or three men, them that seemed to them of least might or worth, and gave them peace and had of them tidings: learnt what men had been aboard that ship, and likewise what manner of journey they had been bound on. And when they understood all the truth, then kenned they the slain, that which lay on the ship: found they then that for sure, that a greater lot of the men had leapt overboard and had been lost than had fallen on the ship. Those sons of Gutthorm had leapt overboard and had been lost: then was one of them twelve winters old, and the other ten, and the hopefullest of men.

So now let Skallagrim go free those men that he had given peace to, and bade them go find Harald the King and say unto him carefully these tidings that were there come about, and this too, who had been in it. “You shall”, said he, “bear to the King this ditty:³

Now’s hersir righted

And King quited:

Corpse-bird and beast

On Yngling’s bairns feast.

Hurl’d hewn on the sea

Floats Hallvard’s bodie.

Grey eagles tear

Wounds of Sharp-fare.”

Thereafter Grim and his folk flitted the ship with her lading out to their own ships; changed then the ships: loaded her which they had then won, and emptied that which they had before and which was smaller: bare stones aboard of her, and brake holes in her, and sank her: sailed therewithal out into the deep, soon as a fair breeze blew.

So is it said of those men that were shape-strong or of them on whom was the berserk-gang, that for so long as that held, they were so strong that there was no holding against them, but forthwith when that was passed over, then were they unmightier than of wont. And it was so with Kveldulf that, as soon as the berserk rage was gone from him, then knew he his weariness after those onslaughts he had made, and then was he altogether without might, so that he laid him down in his bed.

Now the breeze bare them out into the deep. Kveldulf captained that ship which they had taken from Hallvard and his men. They had a fair breeze and held much together in their voyage, so that they had for long whiles sight each of other. But when the main deep was passed, then took Kveldulf’s sickness the upper hand with him. And when it drew toward this, that he was like to die, then called he his shipmates to him and said to them that he thought that likely, that now would soon be a parting of ways for them: “I have not”, said he, “been a man used to sickness, and if so it fare as methinks now likeliest, that I die, then make me a chest and let me fare overboard; and this goeth all another way than I deemed it should be, if I shall not come to Iceland and there take land. Ye shall bear my greeting unto Grim, my son, then when ye find one another, and say to him this withal: if so betide that he come to Iceland, and it so come about (though that may be thought unlikely) that I be there before you, then let him take to him his dwelling as near as may be to that place where I shall have come aland”.

A little thereafter died Kveldulf. His shipmates did so, even as he before had spoken, and laid him in a chest and thereafter shot it overboard.

There was a man named Grim, the son of Thorir the son of Ketil Keelfarer, a man of great kindred and a wealthy. He was a shipmate of Kveldulf’s. He had been an old friend of that father and son, and had been on journeys both with them and with Thorolf. And he had gotten the wrath of the King for that sake. He took charge of the ship after Kveldulf was dead. But when they were come off Iceland, then sailed they from the south toward the land: they sailed west along the land, because they had heard say that Ingolf had there taken up his dwelling, but when they came round Reekness⁴ and they saw the firth open up before them, then stood they in to the firth with both their ships. The gale blew fierce, and great rain and fog; and now the ships parted. They sailed in up Burgfirth till there was an end of all skerries; then cast anchor till the gale abated and the air cleared; then waited they for flood-tide, and therewith flitted their ship up into a certain river-mouth: that is called Gufa. They brought the ship up the river so far as they might: and now bare the lading off the ship, and made their dwelling there the first winter. They kenned the land along by the sea both up the firth and down, and when they had fared but a short way, then found they where in a certain wick was cast ashore the chest of Kveldulf. They flitted the chest to that ness that was there,⁵ set it down there, and piled it with stones.

CHAPTER XXVIII. OF SKALLAGRIM’S LAND-TAKING.

SKALLAGRIM came there aland where a great ness went out into the sea, and a narrow neck landward of the ness, and there bare the lading off the ship. That called they Knarrarness.

Thereafter Skallagrim kenned the land, and there was great marshlands and wide woods,¹ long betwixt fell and foreshore, seal-takings enow and great catch of fish. But when they kenned the land south along the sea, then was there before them a great firth;² but when they fared in along that firth then stayed they not from their faring until they found their fellows, Grim the Halogalander and those fellows of his. That was a joyful meeting: said they unto Skallagrim of his father’s death, and that withal, that Kveldulf was there come aland and they had laid him in earth there. And now brought they Skallagrim to the place, and so it seemed to him as if it should be but a short way thence to where a good stead would be for building of a house.

Fared Grim then away and back to his shipmates, and they sate there, of either part, through the winter where they had come aland. Then took Skallagrim land betwixt fell and foreshore, all the Myres out as far as Selalon and inland as far as Burglava, and south to Havenfell, and all that land that is marked off by the river-waters falling to the sea. He flitted his ship next spring south to the firth and in into that inlet which was nearest to that where Kveldulf had come to land, and set his house there, and called it Burg, and the firth Burgfirth; and so too the countryside up from there they named after the firth.

To Grim the Halogalander gave he dwelling south of Burgfirth, there where it was called Hvanneyri.³ A short way out from thence stretches inland a wick, nought great: they found there many ducks, and called it Andakil,⁴ and Andakilswater that which there fell into the sea. Up from that river to the river that was called Grimswater, there between them had Grim his land.

In the spring, when Skallagrim let drive his livestock up along the sea-shore then came they to a certain little ness, and caught there some swans, and called it Alptaness.

Skallagrim gave land to his shipmates.⁵ To Ani gave he land betwixt Longwater and Hafslech, and he dwelt at Anisbrent: his son was Onund Sjoni,⁶ by whom arose the strife between Thorstein and Odd-a-Tongue.

Grani dwelt at Granistead in Digraness.

To Thorbiorn Krumm gave he land up by Gufa, and to Thord Beigaldi. Krumm dwelt at Krummsknolls and Thord at Beigaldi.

To Thorir the Giant, him and his brother, gave he land up from Einkunnir and to the outer side along Longwater. Thorir the Giant dwelt at Giantstead; his daughter was Thordis Stang that dwelt at Stangarholt thereafter. Thorgeir dwelt at Jardlangstead.

Skallagrim kenned the land up about the countryside: fared first in along Burgfirth till the firth ended, and after that along the river on the western side, that he called Whitewater⁷ because he and his fellows had never before seen those waters that were fallen out of the jokulls: it seemed to them that river was of a wondrous look. They fared up along Whitewater, till that river was before them that fell out of the north from the fells: that called they Northwater, and fared up along that river till there was yet again a river before them, and therein was but little fall of water. Fared they over that river and still up along Northwater: saw then soon where the little river fell out of gorges, and called that Gorgewater. And now fared they over Northwater and fared back again to Whitewater and up along it; it was then but a short way to that river that was athwart their way before them and fell into Whitewater; that called they Thwartwater; they were ware of this, that there was every water full of fishes.

And now fared they out again, back to Burg.

CHAPTER XXIX. OF THE WORKS OF SKALLAGRIM.

SKALLAGRIM was a great workman. He had with him always a mort of men: let fetch in much those takings that were at hand and were needful for the keep of men: because at first had they little livestock as against that which was needed for that throng of men there was; and what there was of livestock went then every winter self-feeding in the woods.

Skallagrim was a great ship-builder, and there was no lack of driftwood west along the Myres. He let make a farmstead at Alptaness and had there a second dwelling: let work from there out-rowings and seal fisheries and egg-takings, seeing there was then enough of all those takings, and so too of driftwood to let flit home to him. Then also were there great comings of whales ashore, and a man might shoot as he would: all was then quiet in the fishing-steads, for the wild things were without knowledge of man.

A third dwelling had he by the sea-side in the westward Myres. It was there yet better for sitting for drifts, and there he let sow the land and call the place Acres. Isles lay there out from the land that whale was found in, and they called these Whale-isles.

Skallagrim had men of his also up by the salmon rivers for fishing. Odd Live-alone he set by Gorgewater to mind the salmon fisheries there. Odd dwelt under Live-alone Brents. After him is named Live-aloneness. Sigmund was a man named, whom Skallagrim set by Northwater. He dwelt there where it was called Sigmundstead: there it is now called the Howes. After him is called Sigmundness. Afterwards he moved his homestead in to Munodsness: that seemed a readier place for salmon fisheries.

But when Skallagrim’s livestock was much increased, then went the cattle all up into the fells in the summer. He found there was great odds in this, that those beasts became better and fatter which went on the heaths, and this too, that the sheep throve a-winters in the mountain dales, even though they could not be driven down. So now Skallagrim let make a farmstead up by the fell and had a dwelling there: let there tend his sheep. That dwelling Griss had ward of, and it is called after him Grisartongue.

And now stood Skallagrim’s estate on many feet.

Some while later than Skallagrim had come out, came a ship from the main sea into Burgfirth, and that man owned her who was called Oleif Hialti. He had with him his wife and children and a band of kinsfolk of his beside, and had been so minded of his journey that he should find him a dwelling-place in Iceland. Oleif was a man wealthy and of great family and wise of wit.

Skallagrim bade Oleif home to lodge with him, him and all his company, and Oleif took that gladly, and he was with Skallagrim the first winter that Oleif was in Iceland. But afterward in the spring Skallagrim showed Oleif choice of land along the south of Whitewater, up from Grimswater to Flokadaleswater. Oleif took that gladly, and carried thither his home and household and set up house there where it is named Varmalech. He was a worshipful man: his sons were Ragi of Laugardale and Thorarin Ragi’s brother, that took the Speakership of the Law in Iceland next after Hrafn Haengson. Thorarin dwelt at Varmalech: he had to wife Thordis, daughter of Olaf Feilan and sister to Thord the Yeller.¹

CHAPTER XXX. OF THE COMING OUT OF YNGVAR, THE FATHER-IN-LAW OF SKALLAGRIM.

KING HARALD HAIRFAIR laid his ban on all those lands which Kveldulf and Skallagrim had left behind in Norway, and on all their fee besides which he might seize upon. He sought much too after those men who had been in their redes or private counsels, or had been aught of help to Skallagrim and his in that work that they wrought before Skallagrim fared abroad out of the land: and to such a pitch came that enmity that the King bare toward that father and son, that he made himself hateful unto all kindred of theirs or other of their affinity, or such men as he wist of that they had been in dear friendship with them. Some were dealt punishment by him, and many fled away and sought their safety, some within the land, but some fled clean away out of the land abroad.

Yngvar, Skallagrim’s father-in-law, was one of those men aforesaid. He took that rede, that he laid out his fee so far as he might in loose goods and gat him a sea-going ship: manned her, and made ready to fare to Iceland, because he had heard that Skallagrim had taken there his fixed abode and that there should be no lack of choice land with Skallagrim.

Now when they were ready and had wind at will, then sailed he into the deep and it sped him well of his journey: came he to Iceland southward of the land, and held west round Reekness and sailed into Burgfirth and held in up Longwater and so all up to the force: bare there their cargo off the ship.

But when Skallagrim heard of the coming of Yngvar, then fared he straightway to meet him and bade him to him with so many men as he would. Yngvar took that gladly; the ship was laid up, and Yngvar fared to Burg with many men and was that winter with Skallagrim. But at point of spring, Skallagrim bade him choice of land: he gave Yngvar that house which he had at Alptaness, and land inland as far as Leirulech and out as far as Streamfirth. Thereafter fared he to that out-farm, and took it unto him; and he was the ablest of men, and had a wealth of fee. Skallagrim made then a dwelling in Knarrarness and had a dwelling there long thereafter.

Skallagrim was a great iron-smith and had great smelting of ore in winter time. He let make a smithy beside the sea a long way out from Burg, there where it is called Raufarness: he thought the woods lay not over far away there. But when he found there no stone that was so hard and so smooth as might seem to him good to beat iron on (because there is there no sea-worn stone: it is there small sand all beside the sea), that was of an evening, when other men went to their sleep,¹ that Skallagrim went down to the sea and dragged down an eight-oar ship that he had, and rowed out to Midfirthisles: then let drop his anchor-stone at the stem of the ship. And now stepped he overboard, and dived, and had up with him a stone, and brought it up into the ship. And now fared he himself up into the ship, and rowed to land, and bare the stone to his smithy and laid it down before the smithy door, and thenceforward beat his iron on it. That stone lieth there yet, and much burnt slag nigh; and that is seen of the stone, that it is hammered down, and that is surf-worn rock, and nought like to that other rock which is there, and now will not four men lift a greater.

Skallagrim wrought hard with his smith-work, but his house-carles grumbled, and thought ’twas early rising. Then made he this stave:²

Much betideth that iron-smith

Early to rise, who pennies

Will lay up. The wind’s weeds

Welcome Viddi’s brother.

Let the sledge-hammers yell on glowing

Gold of Beam-enjoyer,

While stirring cots that swallow

The storm-blast whistle.

CHAPTER XXXI. OF THE CHILDREN OF SKALLAGRIM.

SKALLAGRIM and Bera had very many children, and so it was at first that all died. Then gat they a son, and was sprinkled with water¹ and named Thorolf. But when he was waxen up, then was he early great of growth and the comeliest to look upon. That was the talk of all men, that he would be the likest to Thorolf Kveldulfson, whom he was named after. Thorolf was far beyond those of like age with him in strength: and when he waxed up, he became a master-man in most of those feats that it was then the wont of men to perform, of them that were men of doughty deeds. Thorolf was a very glad man. Early was he so far come to his full strength that he was deemed fit to accompany with other men of full age. Soon was he well loved of the folk. Right fond of him too were his father and mother.

Skallagrim and his wife had two daughters: the one was named Saeunn and the other Thorunn. They too were lasses of good make in their upgrowing.

Yet again had Skallagrim and his wife a son. That one was sprinkled with water and a name given him, and was called Egil. But when he waxed up, then might it soon be seen of him that he would be exceeding ugly and like his father, black of hair. And when he was three winters old, then was he great and strong, even as those other boys that were six winters old or seven. He was soon a chatterbox, and skilled in words. Something ill to deal with he was, when he was at play with other young folk.

That spring fared Yngvar to Burg, and this was his errand, that he-bade Skallagrim to a bidding, out there at his own place, and named for that journey Bera his daughter and Thorolf her son, and any men else that she and Skallagrim would have go. Skallagrim promised he would come. Fared Yngvar then home, and made ready against the feast and let brew ale then. But when it came to the day appointed, when Skallagrim should fare to the bidding and Bera with him, then Thorolf made him ready for the journey along with them, and housecarles, so that they were fifteen together.

Egil talked of this with his father, that he would go too: “I have as much to say to them there as Thorolf,” saith he.

“Thou shalt not go,” saith Skallagrim; “because thou knowest not how to behave thyself in a throng of folk, where there be great drinkings. They think thee not good to do with, though thou be not drunk.”

Then went Skallagrim a-horseback and rode away.

But Egil was ill content with his lot. He went out of the garth and found a certain draught-horse that Skallagrim had: fared a-back of him, and rode after Skallagrim and his. It was uneasy going for him through the marshes because he knew not the way, but yet he saw very often the riding of Skallagrim and his, when neither holt nor woodland blocked his sight.

There is that to tell of his journey, that late in the evening came he to Alptaness, then when men sate there a-drinking. Went he into the hall. But when Yngvar saw Egil, he took to him kindly, and asked why he was come so late. Egil said what Skallagrim and he had talked about. Yngvar sat Egil down by his side. Sat they over against Skallagrim and Thorolf. That was their way there at ale-quaffings that men quoth staves. Then quoth Egil a stave:²

Come am I hale to hearthstone

Of Yngvar, he that giveth

To lads the glittering ling-thong’s

Bed, (lief would I find him!)

Scarce shalt thou, O lavisher

Of the light-encircl’d worm-lands,

Find a three-year-old ode-smith

Better than me.

Yngvar made much of that stave, and thanked Egil well for the stave; and the day after, then brought Yngvar to Egil, for skaldship’s guerdon, three sea-snail shells and a duck’s egg. But the day after that, at their drinking, Egil quoth another stave upon his guerdon:³

Wise herdsman of the wound-fowl,

To wordy Egil gav’st thou

Three ever-silent surf-dogs

For song’s rewarding.

And, steerer of the sea-steed,

Still a fourth thing gav’st thou:

Bed of the beck-partridge—

Boon to gladden Egil!

Egil laid up for himself thanks for his skaldship with many men. There was nought else to tell of in their journey; fared Egil home with Skallagrim.

CHAPTER XXXII. OF BIORN BRYNIOLFSON AND THORA JEWEL-HAND.

BIORN was named a mighty hersir in Sogn, who dwelt at Aurland. His son was Bryniolf, who took all the inheritance after his father. The sons of Bryniolf were Biorn and Thord: they were men in their youthful age when these things betided.¹

Biorn was a great man in sea-faring: was whiles a-viking, and whiles in cheaping voyages. Biorn was the ablest of men. That befell one summer, that Biorn was abiding in the Firths at a certain feast thronged with men. There saw he a fair maid, and great joy he took to gaze upon her. He asked after her, of what kindred she was. That was said to him, that she was sister to Thorir the Hersir, Hroald’s son, and was named Thora Jewel-hand. Biorn set forth his wooing and bade Thora in marriage, but Thorir denied him his suit, and they parted with things in such case.

But that same autumn Biorn gathered him folk and fared with a cutter all manned north into the Firths and came to Thorir’s at such time that he was not at, home. Biorn took Thora away and had her home with him to Aurland. They were there winter-long, and Biorn would fain make his wedding with her.

Bryniolf his father liked ill of that, that Biorn had done this shame unto Thorir, whereas before had long friendship been betwixt Thorir and Bryniolf: “So far shalt thou be, Biorn,” saith Bryniolf, “from wedding with Thora here in mine house without leave of Thorir her brother, that she shall here so well abide as if she were my very daughter, and sister of thine.”

And so must needs be everything, even as Bryniolf would bespeak it there in his household, whether Biorn liked well of it or ill.

Bryniolf sent men to Thorir to bid him atonement and redress for that journey Biorn had fared upon. Thorir bade Bryniolf send home Thora: said that no atonement might there be else. But Biorn would for no sake let her fare away, albeit Bryniolf bade this.

So wore the winter. But when it began to be spring, then talked they, Bryniolf and Biorn, one day concerning what rede they should take. Bryniolf asked what he was minded for. Biorn said that was likeliest, that he would fare away out of the land: “That is nearest to my mind”, said he, “that thou find me a long-ship and a following therewith, and I fare a-viking.”

“It is not to be thought of”, said Bryniolf, “that I should put in thine hands a war-ship and a great following, sith I know not but that thou’dst come down in that place of all places ’twould please me least to see thee in; and now, without that, stand we in more than enough unrest because of thee. A cheaping-ship will I put in thine hands, and therewith cheaping-wares. And fare thou then south to Dublin. That is now the best spoken of of voyages. I will find thee a good ship’s company.”

So saith Biorn, that he needs must take it as Bryniolf would. Then let Bryniolf make ready a good cheaping-ship and found men thereto. Biorn made him ready then for that journey, and was not early ready.

But when Biorn was all ready and a fair breeze set in, then stepped he aboard of a boat with twelve men and rowed in to Aurland, and they went up to the farmstead and to that bower which was his mother’s. She sat within there, and very many women. There was Thora.

Biorn said that Thora must fare with him. They led her away, but his mother bade the women be not so bold as make them ware of this within-door in the hall: said that Bryniolf would take an ill thing in hand if he wist of this, and said that then would the way be cleared for great peril ’twixt that father and son. But Thora’s clothes and precious things were there all laid ready to hand, and Biorn and his had all that along with them. Fared they now by night out to their ship: hoisted sail forthwith, and sailed out down the Sogn-sea and thereafter into the main.