Daughter of Thorfid and Sunn was Thordis wife to Arngeir in Holm, the son of Bersi Godless. They brought thither a swift twenty-benched long-ship well manned, which they had before used in sea-roving. ', 'You must know all about the plan of this house,' said Egil; 'where have we the best hope to get out? Kettle meant to make his home in Iceland; he came late in the summer. My advice is that you call the king's messengers to conference with you, and I will be present at your talk, and we will see what come of it.'. Great is this honour to thee, my lord, when thine enemies travel of their own free will from other lands, and deem they cannot endure thy wrath though thou be nowhere near. After this Thrand took charge of the cattle. On hawk-trod wrist of mine. Egil's Saga . Egill succeeded (by reciting Hfulausn or "Head Ransom"), and Eirik allowed him to leave on condition that he never appeared again before Eirik's sight. The earl had a very beautiful daughter then in the flower of youth; the lot decreed that Egil should sit by her for the evening. He had a long-ship built, large, and with a dragon's head, fitted out in the best style; this he took with him from the north. His reactions are usually on a grand scale to the point where they are often outrageous and entertaining. The king said that Thorstein should have leave to dwell in the land, and should be reconciled to him. "So temper thy stomach," It befell in autumn, when ships had come to Iceland from Norway, that this report came over, how Bjorn had run away with Thora without the consent of her kin, and for that the king had made him an outlaw from Norway. Then he made him ready for the combat. I to men were fain One day they put in at the mouth of a large river, where was an extensive forest upon land. He earned the nickname Kveldulf (Kveldlfr, "Evening Wolf") because of his erratic temper at nightfall, and reputation for manifesting the so-called "shape-shifter" (hamrammr) abilities,[4] explained in later chapters to be comparable (or equatable) with berserk fury. 'I should like,' said Bard, 'to give you better drink if I had any.'. Such gifts had cast Now, methinks it is most unreasonable neither to be his friend nor his enemy. Gold that the heather-worm guardeth. ', Egil said: 'Maybe no harm will be done by my taking it in hand.'. With a fair wind they sailed north to Vik; there again they fell in with a large merchant-ship belonging to men of Vik, laden with malt and meal. Then they parted: the house-carle went home and told him the thrall's answer. Now thou hast taken up the very counsel against which I warned thee; thou matchest thy force against king Harold's. Rognvald, the king's son, had a pinnace, rowed by six men on either side, painted all above the sea line. They so agreed between them that they became king Athelstan's men. Hromund, brother of Grim the Halogalander, settled at this time in Cross-river-lithe with his shipmates. Egil asked many questions, and Alf told him what he asked. Olaf dwelt at Hjardarholt in Lax-river-dale, westward in Broad-firth dales. ', Whereupon Aunund said: 'I need not leave this matter to the tongue of Odd. Bjorn took Thora away thence, and home with him to Aurland. Some women saw this, and laughed, saying: 'You are now quite gone, Egil, if you fall when alone.' Thereon I bethink me, On me a heavy hand Thorolf and Bjorn were for that winter with Brynjolf. As before, he held a fair with the Finns, and travelled far and wide over Finmark. And when it came to this, that death was near, then he called to him his shipmates, and told them that he thought it likely they and he would soon take different ways. Shivered swords with stroke How generous of mood They who guarded the boat were not aware of it till Egil was upon them. The earl then asked what were the tidings of Egil and his comrades. They left three men behind with the boat; but nine went up, and they separated into three search parties, with three in each. And when he was ready and got a wind, he sailed out to the main. Thou findest not six men 'False to my friend But when they came to Eyrar-sound, then Aki said that up on land there was a large trading town named Lundr; there, he said, was hope of plunder, but 'twas likely that the townsmen would make resistance. That rushed and Kettle's ribs There, too, he had land sown, and called it Acres. Egil in few words told him clearly of his journey: 'And now you shall see what counsel I ought to take, if you will give me any help. It was all wave-marked on the surface like a shell. There was a man named Thorgeir Thornfoot; he dwelt in Fenhring of Hordaland, at a place called Askr. And when he knew these tidings, then he sent away all those men that he had had before for protection. Aunund Sjoni and some of Egil's company had gone out to sea, to look after their ship and another cargo which they had given into safe keeping in the autumn, and they had not yet returned. Arinbjorn started when ready, and his journey went well; he found king Hacon, and was well received. They waited for the flood-tide, and then took their ship up into a river-mouth; it is called Gufu-river. Widely have peoples heard, He had accrued land and property from viking raids, and was a man of wisdom. And when Thorstein leapt on his horse, then Steinar called after him, 'You run now, Thorstein the white.' The feast was to be at Bjorn's in the autumn. Then he took a horse's head and fixed it on the pole. And when he came home, Asgerdr put the robe in the chest where it was before. Bowed and prostrate laid. His son said that the darkness of night was now closing in, and no sport was thus gotten by their torture; he bade them be let bide till the morning. Bard had a son by his wife; he was named Grim. But in spring they got ready a large war-ship and gathered men thereto, and in summer they went the eastern way and harried; there won they much wealth and had many battles. Thorgils Yeller was standing near; he made a sweep with his sword at Thorgeir, and cut off his hand along with the fence-stake. When Bard received Egill's party, he would only serve curd (skyr) to drink, pretending ale had run out. Arrows forward sprang. Skallagrim was now old and weak with age. Hied him from life Strife with the royal house drive the family out of the country, and they settle in Iceland. On Harold's side fell two earls, Asgaut and Asbjorn, and two sons of earl Hacon, Grjotgard and Herlaug, and many other great men. It was the goodman's treasury; there were many costly things, and much silver. Dripping spears flew madly, A son deceives me living, Gunnhilda was above all women beautiful and shrewd, and of magic cunning. But when a sea-breeze came on, Egil said to his shipmen, 'We will now sail to land, for I do not quite know, should the sea-wind come to blow hard, where we could make land, 'tis a dangerous-looking coast in most places.' In deeds unblemished, The king let the matter rest. Take you now here as much share of the property as you think will make you a great man. There was a man named Kettle Hod; he was of king Eric's guard, an Uplander by family. Out he went on to the moor: it was late in the day. He went up into the island and along the border of a wood. He rode till he came near the town, where sate the king. Thorir did not deny that he had heard so. And when the law pleadings were finished, then stood up Egil and spoke thus: 'Are Steinar and Aunund, father and son, present, so that they can hear my words?' egils saga sparknotes. Oaths that are meet and true.'. ', Harek said: 'That was to be looked for, because on that banquet most was spent; and thou, O king, hadst great luck in matters so turning out that thy life was not endangered. But when the Frisians saw that but one man was following, they turned back and attacked him, but he defended himself well, and used the dyke to cover him behind so that they could not attack him on all sides. Egil went to Thord and told him what had been done. That same day Steinar, expecting that Thorstein would be riding home, rode out along the shore. That same autumn old Bjorgolf journeyed from home in a cutter of his own, with thirty men aboard. They now start, and soon come to the island. But as all the work is already arranged, I will put on you a task of but little trouble: you shall sit by my cattle. Grim said to his comrades: ''Tis the custom here that men go weaponless before the king; six of us shall go in, the other six shall bide without and keep our weapons. [25] In chapters 6062, Egill is confronted with a situation where he must greet King Eirik, with whom he is on bad terms. And when Thorstein perceived his father's coming, he with all his troop went to meet him, and bade him welcome. Now and again in the snow the horses so plunged and lay that they had to be pulled up out of it, and over rocks and crags was a hard struggle. But, as it happened suddenly and there was little light, the two ships ran past each other. Kettle Hing had owned the sword and used it in his single combats, and no sword was there more biting. Aulvir Hnuf was with the king, and often spoke with him about whether he would pay atonement for Thorolf, granting to Kveldulf and Skallagrim money compensation, or such honour as would content them. So far in advance went Thorolf that few of his men were before him. The Myramen ran to their weapons, and so did either party. The ship was drawn up, and Yngvar went to Borg with many men, and stayed that winter with Skallagrim. Then Egil sang a stave: 'If four with me follow, Harold Gormsson had then taken the kingdom in Denmark, his father Gorm being now dead. But robbery of my right Egil and Einar pledged them to friendship on parting. Egil took a large flat stone, and laid it before his breast and stomach. Then Ljot begged for a rest. Arinbjorn went to his men, and they sate over drink till midnight. But wheresoever he came to the strand, men were always there before him. Or if thou wilt have him to be a baron, then give him a grant southwards in the Firths, where are all his family: thou mayest then keep an eye on him, that he make not himself too great for thee. Egil took the money, and thanked Arinbjorn. Bard busily plied them with drink. But when Gunnhilda heard what they were talking of, then said she: 'This I think, Eric, that 'tis now going again as it has gone often before; thou lendest easy ear to talk, nor bearest long in mind the ill that is done thee. In selfish peace. Gunnhilda is your bitter enemy, as you know already, and she will not desire Onund to put the case right. A draught drawn not lightly Njal's Saga is the longest and the most revered of the forty family sagas written in Iceland between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. And when Egil made ready his ship for sea, then Thorstein Eric's son settled to go with him, he of whom mention was made before, who was afterwards called Thora's son. Arinbjorn held a great Yule-feast, to which he bade his friends and the neighbouring landowners. There it lay in the smoke all the winter. False, though he promised fair, ', He answered: 'I, too, am afraid of the bear; and few, methinks, now go weaponless. This offer was well received and favourable answered, and so it came about that Bard was betrothed to the maiden. The saga begins in Norway around 850, with the life of Egill's grandfather Ulf (lfr) aka Kveldulf or "Evening Wolf", and his two sons Thorolf (rlfr) and Skallagrim (Skalla-Grmr). He was called Kveldulf. 'I wish,' said he, 'to go out with Thorolf.'. He was soon talkative and word-wise. He understood, ere he had been long there, whither Steinar had had his cattle taken, and he sat by them on Stack-moor. Bjorn stayed for the winter with Skallagrim as did all his shipmates. If all boons I tell. Sigtrygg and Hallvard were with him: they had heard what Thorolf had done at their house on Hising, what scathe he had wrought on men and property. Skapti the priest, Thorarin's son, a wise man, was there at the time. Some lands he sold, some he mortgaged, but he kept up all expenses as before; he had no fewer men with him than last winter, nay, rather more. Next to him sat Thorbjorn Raven, then Aulvir Hnuf, and next to him was placed Bard; he was there by-named Bard the White or Bard the Strong. But some were against it, saying that Athelstan would offer much more the second time, were this refused. Egil said: 'It is to me quite clear what this message means; the king will have you out of the land like others of Arinbjorn's kin, for I call sending a man of your nobleness on such errand a sending to certain death. Arinbjorn was very angry that Thora his father's sister had been called a bondwoman. They were then made much of by king Eric and Gunnhilda. 'For she is very wroth with you,' said Arinbjorn; 'and this has been made much worse by your encounter with Eyvind near Jutland.'. Hath flaws not a few, Thorolf speedily opened to Bjorn his errand, and made his offer, asking Bjorn's daughter Asgerdr to wife. He had now a hood drawn over his helm, and was fully armed. He in mine household Helpless is and lone. Thereafter Egil drank his share, and talked with others. Now will I, Eyvind, that thou go north to Halogaland. In war's dread hour; The monarch strong, So he went abroad in the summer with Bjorn. He replied, 'I wish to tell you that this land is mine; yours is the pasture beyond the brook. Men said that he had gone out. And Thorfinn offered to Egil all the furtherance that he might think needful. [34] In chapters 55 and 81, Egill composes two powerful poems that show how grief-stricken he is when his brother rlfr and his son Bvar (Bodvar) die. Bjorn at once remembered about him, and he went to meet Skallagrim, and they talked together. ', 'Less by far,' said the king, 'and much worse paid is the tribute now than when Thorolf gathered it; yet ye said that he managed the business ill.', 'It is well, O king,' said Harek, 'that thou hast considered how large a tribute should usually come from Finmark, because thus thou knowest how much thou losest, if Thorolf waste all the tribute before thee. There was a man named Aulvir, a house-carle of Thorir's, who was manager and bailiff over his estate. His voyage sped well. Hildirida was Hogni's heiress, and she and her sons inherited from him and dwelt in Leka, and had plenty of wealth. Arinbjorn advised him not to settle in Norway while Gunnhilda's power was so great. 'We are told, O king, that Egil pleads but law in this; but your stewards have taken up the property, and claimed ownership for you. Einar asked Egil on what occasion his prowess had been most hardly tried; this he begged him to say. He asked to wife Thorgerdr, Egil's daughter. Prince with twelve his liege-men, King Harold long held his residence in Hordaland or Rogaland, at those large estates that he owned, at Outstone or Augvalds-ness, or at Afreksted in Fitjar, or at Seaham in Lygra. 'Swell'd of swords the sound After this Egil and Thord went away to their own people. Arinbjorn offered quarters to Egil and such of his men as he liked to bring. Steinar tried to shake him off, but Lambi held fast, and so they went from the sandhill on to the level, and just then Thorstein and his friend rode by on the path below. A noble barque steering, Now, when Bjorn and Thorolf had been one winter in Norway and spring came, they made ready a ship and gathered men. He was a man of renown; his sons were Ragi in Hot-spring-dale, and Thorarin, Ragi's brother, who took the law-speakership next after Hrafn Hngsson. Up leapt the liers-in-wait and made at them, and they met their charge: and the encounter ended in Egil's slaying two and the rest running back into the wood. This was maintained throughout his lifetime and his son Edward's. There were also his cargo and the men who had gone with the ship. Egil and eleven with him went to Arinbjorn's. The marriage was to take place the next summer. 'Tooth-fence took I, I begin the cause with this: Grim my father came to this island, and took to him here all the land of Myrar and the district round about, and chose him a homestead at Borg, and assigned a parcel of land thereto, but gave to his friends choice of land outside that same, in which they have since settled. I have spend many a word and begged Steinar to be reconciled with Thorstein; for in any case I would have spared your son Thorstein disgrace: and good cause for this is the loving friendship of old that has been between us two, Egil, since we grew up here as next-door neighbours.' Many Britons and Scots fell, but some turned and fled. I rode to seek. 'Me Ran, the sea-queen, There was great intimacy between Thorolf and Gunnhilda. This river they crossed, and still went up along North-river; then they soon saw where the little river fell out of a cleft, and they called it Cleave-river. Now however this heritage has come to men who are in nowise our kin, and we cannot be altogether silent about our wrong; but it may be that, as before, might will so prevail that we get not our right of thee in this, if thou refuse to hear the witness that we can bring to prove us honourably born. An enemy still. The freebooters had brought down to the shore much booty and cattle. The king said: 'These chests, Egil, thou shalt have, and, if thou comest to Iceland, shalt carry this money to thy father; as payment for a son I send it to him: but some of the money thou shalt divide among such kinsmen of thyself and Thorolf as thou thinkest most honourable. He was with Frodi when these things happened. But the Vermians who escaped took their horses, and dragged themselves from the wood eastwards to inhabited parts. In the spring following that winter Thorolf and Egil made them ready to go again a-freebooting. They then went their way back, and when they came south over the Dovre-fell, then said Egil that he would go down to Raumsdale, and after that south by way of the sounds. After this they formed in the divisions as the king had arranged, and the standards were raised. He had now been long abroad. This when Thorolf saw, he said that Egil should turn and encounter him, and bade the standard be borne that way; his men he bade hold well together and stand close. Soon they began to drink bumpers, each man was to drink off the horn; and especial care was taken that Egil and his companions should drink hard. Bjorn said there was Thora, Hroald's daughter, sister of lord Thorir. ', They resolved on this, that Egil should equip a swift cutter, whereon they embarked some twenty men, and went south to Hordaland and on to Askr. He went out on to the ship, and outside the tenting; he cut asunder the cables that were on the seaward side; then, hurrying back to land by the bridge, he at once shot out the bridge, and cut the cables that were upon land. But when he came to the dunes below Lamba-stead he lay in wait there. Then Egil was asked what counsel he thought good. Then Egil sang: 'Lonely I lie, Carle worn with eld Leifur Eirksson . I will now only bring my cause to such an issue as shall content Odd and Einar.' The other slain: a sovereign Thorfinn granted this, and Egil with his men went into the hall. The wind was then somewhat slack, and their voyage slower, but nothing happened till they sailed northwards over the Sogn-sea, having now a good wind and bright weather, and being in merry mood. All edge by his spells. Hildirida's sons took the business in Halogaland; and none gainsaid this because of the king's power, but Thorolf's kinsmen and friends were much displeased at the change. 'Odin, mighty monarch, Arinbjorn answered. He rose from his bed, and took his place in the high-seat. The poem of praise And with that ship went Thorgils Yeller, and I believe he sailed westwards for England. Here Thorolf befriended Prince Eirik Bloodaxe, Harald's favorite son and Thorir's fosterling. Njal's Saga Study Guide | GradeSaver Then, as soon as ever the wind was fair, they sailed out to sea. 'Full surely I know, Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Thorstein Egil's son dwelt at Borg. He was pilot on the king's ship, and steered the same. Audbjorn was then king over the Firthfolk; there was an earl of his named Hroald, whose son was Thorir. Then Steinar rode home. And when Aunund grew old and his sight was dim, then he gave up the housekeeping to Steinar his son. Egil's Saga . Thou, too, hast bestowed on him large grants, and he had now made all ready to repay them with ill. For this is the truth that I tell thee: when it was learnt that thou wert coming north to Halogaland with no more force than three hundred men, the counsel of people here was that an army should assemble and take thy life, O king, and the lives of all thy force. Blessed boon to mortals Now Egil must not set up such claim before me ad he did before my brother Eric. These were Britons, Scots, and Irish. His first experience of travel comes when his father excludes him from a family visit to his grandfather. Wise words choose I for the cup His promise to thee will now stand fast; for here thou canst see true tokens that he will be thy friend in all when he hath sent his son hither to take service with thee, a stalwart man as thou mayest see. In the spring Thorolf went home to his farm, and then employed his men at the fishing in Vagar, and some in herring-fishing, and had the take of every kind brought to his farm. Now show thyself princely to this man. 1960 . ', Bjorn answered, 'Truth only told I to you, Grim, and you may not rebuke me for this, though I told you no further than you asked. For his deathful brand; Arinbjorn untiring Now, bring my horse. A joyful meeting was there. But he sends to king Olaf these words, that he would fain they should not cause so much bloodshed as now looks likely; he begs Olaf rather to go home to Scotland, and Athelstan will give him as a friendly gift one shilling of silver from every plough through all his realm, and he wishes that they should become friends.'. Though I do not think that we two shall sit at the drinking when the funeral feast is held.' Then spoke the king's men with Egil: 'Here now the roads divide; forward below the ridge dwells a landowner named Arnold, our friend; we with our party will go and lodge there. He was a very wealthy man, owning several farms in Jutland. Arinbjorn thanked the king with many fair words for the honour and friendship that he had shown him. The peasants that escaped were scattered far and wide, and so were their pursuers. To rescue I knew.'. Oleif accepted this, and moved thither his household, and set there his homestead by Warm-brook as it is called. After this Thorolf was made of the king's household, and one of his guard. Now I would fain, father, that we should lengthen our lives, so that you may compose a funeral poem on Bodvar, and I will grave it on a wooden roller; after that we can die, if we like. Asgerdr remained behind, and took charge of the house. egils saga sparknotes - cabottrailadventures.ca And better deemed I There were two roads through the wood. They watched for a fit time to go before the king. They slew all that came in their way, the same did Skallagrim where he boarded the ship; nor did father and son stay hands till the ship was cleared. ', She could not answer, but wept the more. Of the brothers, sons of Thorstein, Thorgeir was the strongest, Skuli was the tallest. In the meanwhile, Bjorn had to flee, and was indebted to the hospitality of Thorolf's family in Iceland. But when the freebooters had gone far into the settled parts, the Frisians gathered them in the woods, and when they had assembled three hundred men, they went against the freebooters resolved to give them battle. Egill and Thorolf fought with King thelstan in a battle against "Olaf the Red of Scotland". Eagerly drank. After this Skallagrim and his men took out to their ships and captured ship and her cargo. Egil and Asgerdr had children thus named: Bodvar a son, and another son Gunnar; Thorgerdr a daughter, and Bera. The value code by which Egill lived was the same as that of many Scandinavians at the time of the story's composition. And when they had to go out again, high-water was late in the day, and, as they must needs wait for the turn of tide, they did not start till late in the evening. 'Ye shall also,' said he, 'bear to the king this ditty: 'For a noble warrior slain Since no one was able to accompany him, he wandered alone and allegedly concealed his silver treasure near Mosfellsbr, giving birth to the legend of silfur Egills ("Egill's Silver"). The children of Eyvind and Sigridr were Fid Squinter, father of Eyvind Skald-spoiler, and Geirlaug, whom Sighvat Red had to wife. Penguin . Eric's sounding name. I hope that our good fortune may differ much, as does the justice of our cause.' With more than 1,700titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Want of ale thou couldst allege, Dent . Skallagrim came often to him, and talked with him; he bade him cheer up. This thou mightest know before, that thou wouldst get no terms from me. Full soon from Odin's thane Onund was furious in language for a time; but when Egil saw that Onund would do no right in this matter, then he summoned him to court, and referred the matter to the law of the Gula-thing. So first he warred with the kings nearest to him and conquered them, as is told at length elsewhere. And they went on that autumn till they came to king Athelstan. After this Thorolf embarked and went his way. In warfare madly met.'. Earl Adils pressed on hard and fast till Alfgeir gave ground; then Adils' men pressed on twice as boldly. Many summers they were out a-freebooting, but the winters they spent with Brynjolf, or sometimes with Thorir. King Harold thy father took the life of Thorolf, a man of renown, Egil's father's brother, for the slander of bad men, for no crime at all. Adils with my blue Adder The king answered this well; he said that Thorir might get from him what he would, but it should not have been so had any other man harboured Egil. Bjorn then stayed at home at Aurland with Brynjolf, Thorolf also being there in much favour both with father and son. [30] His multifaceted nature reflects the extreme qualities of his family, a family of men who are either ugly or astoundingly handsome; a family which includes 'shape-shifters', who become suddenly mad, violent and cruel, though they may at other times be deliberate and wise; a family which neither submits to the will of kings, nor stands in open rebellion. He produced tokens and a message from Arinbjorn to the king and also to Egil, that he might be his advocate with the king, so that king Athelstan might send a message from himself to king Hacon, his foster-son, advising that Thorstein should get his inheritance and possessions in Norway.