Heitharvtga saga, as a literary product, is
unquestionably the oldest of all the sagas of Iceland.
Unfortunately it has come down to us in a sadly mangled
state. Ours being the first attempt at an English rendering
of the difficult original, we consider that a concise
account of the "fata libelli" containing it, is in place at
the head of our prefatory remarks.
It was acquired by purchase from
Iceland by the Royal Academy of Antiquities in Sweden,
through the agency of the Icelander, Jon Eggertsson, in the
year 1682. (1) It is now incorporated in the Royal Library
at Stockholm, bearing the signature 18 among the Icelandic
quartos. At the time of its purchase it may or may not have
been a perfect book, probably the latter was the case; (2)
at any rate, when Arni Magnusson ascertained its existence
in Sweden, after 1722, it was but a remnant of a book,
consisting of thirty-six leaves. Of these the first 25-1/2
contained a fragment of the story of Slaying Stir and the
saga of the Heath-slayings complete, with the exception of
one leaf (see our translation, Chapter XXXIV). The remaining
12-1/2 leaves contained the text of the saga of Gunnlaug the
Wormtongue, the best existing of that saga.
Arni Magnusson having applied to the
Swedish Academy for the loan of the MS, obtained,
fortunately, only the first twelve leaves of it, the obvious
reason being that those leaves had become disconnected from
the rest, of the existence of which, for a long time
afterwards, no one had the least idea. Of these twelve
leaves Arni caused his able amanuensis, Jon Olafsson from
Grunnavik (1705-1778), to take a copy, in the latter part of
the year 1727; but original as well as copy were both
destroyed in the Copenhagen conflagration of 1728. In the
following year Olafsson wrote down from memory the contents
of the destroyed leaves, from which we have drawn the brief
introductory matter to the story. On a journey of
antiquarian research to Stockholm in 1772, Hannes Finnsson
(son of the famous Church historian of Iceland, Finnur
Jonsson) discovered the lost remainder of the precious
fragment, the best edition of which is Jon Sigurdsson's in
the second volume of Islendingasogur, 1847. On his edition
our translation depends.
Of all the Icelandic sagas this is the
most quaint in style. The author knows not yet how to handle
prose for the purpose of historical composition. In one and
the same sentence allocutive speech and historic narrative
are blended together in the most unconscious manner. The
author assumes tacitly all throughout that the reader knows
all about his tale; hence he hardly ever takes the trouble
to add to the Christian names of the actors the patronymic.
In one instance this confidence in the reader's knowledge
carries him even so far as in chap. xxxix. to refer to a
person mentioned in the beginning of chap. xxxvi. (Thorod
Kegward) as "he". This, more than any other Icelandic saga,
affords us an insight into what the saga-telling was like
during the period of oral tradition. It was the common
property of teller and listener alike. This the former knew,
and need not be on his guard against disjointed, loopholed
delivery; the listener's knowledge supplied all troublesome
little details, the teller took care of facts, characters,
dramatic action.
We deemed we had no choice but to let
our translation represent the peculiarity of the style of
the original as faithfully as possible.
With regard to the plot of the story,
it is as dramatically arranged a plot as there is in any
existing Icelandic saga, and much more naively than in any.
The sage of Lechmote, Thorarin, a most perfect type of a
devoted foster-father, half distrustful of the ability of
his fosterling, arranges the whole thing most quietly and
carefully at his Willowdale retreat. He makes his fosterling
pray for atonement for his brother, with the most dignified
moderation, at the Althing, until, as he calculated, the
rash and reckless Gisli should turn everybody's sympathy in
favour of Bardi, which, in the event of a blood-feud, would
be of the greatest avail to him. Next there were two
important things to look to. Since at the hands of the men
who stood next to make honourable satisfaction for the
slaying of Bardi's brother, Hall, nothing but insult was
obtained instead of atonement, and peaceful arrangement was
thus excluded,.the revenge must be of the most insulting
nature possible. No insult could exceed that of being
fought, wounded, slain by one's own faithful weapon. So
Thorarin secures, in a very slippery way, the best weapon
possessed by Gisli's father, Thorgaut, (3) and hands it to
Bardi, while from another among the Gislungs he obtains also
one for his son Thorberg, weapons that make good execution
in the Heath- battle. The second point was to be well
informed as to the doings of the Gislungs and other folk in
Burgfirth, without arousing any suspicion of espionage with
a view to a sudden raid upon the country. For this purpose
the old foster-father caused two pet-horses to be removed
from their pastures at Thingvellir during the last Althing
at which Bardi craved atonement for his brother, while their
owner, Thord of Broadford, from the North country, was
attending to public business there. Burgfirth being the
nearest country-side with fine pastures to the tracts of
Thingvellir, everybody would naturally suppose that Thord's
pets must have strayed thither and, not turning up, did
elude search hidden in some of Burgfirth's many valleys.
Thus Thorarin had a specious pretext for repeatedly sending
his spies to Burgfirth to inquire, in Thord of Broadford's
name, for these horses while, in reality, they went to find
out all about the Gislungs and their numerous allies. These
plans of Thorarin, carefully veiled from the outset, are
first allowed to come out in their true aim and importance
in the story, when the hour of action has struck, and the
effect is really artistic. In much the same wary vein are
conceived Thorarin's last injunctions as to the tactics to
be adopted by Bardi. One third of his company of eighteen
was to be stationed up at the Bridge by Biarnisforce as a
last reserve, the second third midway between this spot and
Goldmead, and the last third, consisting of Bardi himself,
his two brothers, two fosterlings of his own house, and his
housecarle Thord -- as being the most obedient to Bardi's
word -- were to make the attack on the mowers of Goldmeed,
Gisli and his brothers. On the field of deed, therefore, no
one knew that the attacking party consisted of more than
six, and this, Thorarin accurately calculated, would serve
to rouse the ardour of the pursuit to such an extent, that
those who got first ready would not care to lose time by
waiting for reinforcements coming up. Thus the Southerners
plunged into the fight against great odds, and got the worst
of it.
Our saga tells of events which
throughout the whole saga-age of Iceland most seriously
threatened to disturb the general peace of the land. A
family feud had developed into a state of war between North
and South, and it was really due to the cool peacemaker of
Saelingsdale-tongue, Snorri, that the end was peace instead
of prolonged civil feud. After the general manner of our
saga, his interest in Bardi's affair seems at first to have
something mysterious about it. Bardi meets him in the dusk
with dropped visor, as he is crossing the Blanda in company
with Thorgils Arison his brother-in-law, and forthwith
Snorri tricks Thorgils, who knows nothing of Bardi's
presence, into solemnly proclaiming truce for all present,
whereby Thorgils unwittingly dissociated himself from his
kindred and friends of Burgfirth as an active ally in case
of continued feud. Then Snorri goes to Lechmote, and the two
deep chiefs take counsel together, when, we may take for
granted, Bardi's alliance to Snorri was first bespoken, and
the latter's goodwill in the forthcoming blood-suit secured.
Circumstances favoured Bardi all round now. Snorri was not
forgetful of old grudges. At the head of a band of four
hundred strong the Burgfirthers had foiled him but a few
years before when seeking to serve a lawful summons on the
slayer of his father-in-law. In the blood-suit which
afterwards he brought into court at the Althing, he was
non-suited by Thorstein Gislison, backed by his Burgfirth
kin and neighbours. Then he took Thorstein's life, but came
ingloriously out of the blood- suit, as the Ere-dwellers'
story clearly hints. Bardi's case was therefore Snorri's
opportunity for restoring his shaken prestige. And when at
the Althing the Burfirthers saw that he had thrown the great
weight of Broadfirth into the scale of the Northlanders,
they had no choice but peacefully to make the best of a
serious case. In the light of this situation only we can
understand, how the Burgfirthers could put up with such a
galling award as to have four of their well-born men that
fell in the Heath-fight left unatoned.
A remarkable popular tradition, linked
to our saga, lives still in the country of Hunawater, to the
effect that, after the battle of the Heath, Bardi built up
the work to this day called Burg-Work, and there defended
himself against the Burgfirthers, being twice attacked by
them in force. The learned Paul Vidalin (1667-1727), in his
"Skyringar yfir fornyrthi logbokar theirrar er Jonsbok
kallast," p. 625, s.v. "virki", thus recounts the legend, as
told him by his uncle, Gudbrand, son of Arngrim Jonsson
(1568-1648): "So it is said, that Bardi Gudmundson of
Asbiornsness caused the same work to be reared against
expected attacks by the Burgfirthers, after he had avenged
his brother Hall, and this, people aver, is related in the
story of the Heath-slayings. Bardi set out watches in two
places, one on Thorey's-nip, to keep a look-out on the
Burgfirthers should they ride over Two-days' Heath, the
other on Rednip, watching their ride over Ernwater Heath,
whether descending into Willowdale or Waterdale. As soon as
aware of their approach, the watches were to light a beacon.
Even as he had guessed the Burgfirthers made their
appearance (by what road the tale does not say), and Bardi
with his followers went into the work, which the attackers
besieged, making several attempts to carry it, but being
repulsed, resolved to starve those within it, and invested
it for a fortnight; but the besieged being plentifully
provisioned, the Burgfirthers had to retire, having effected
nothing. This narrative by Gudbrand Arngrimson, according to
tradition, says that the statement is found in the story of
the Heath-slayings." Vidalin was evidently much interested
in this tradition, and collected further evidence relating
to it which, though evidently later, agreed in all essential
points with his uncle's.
This Gudbrand was born in 1639 (ob.
1719), and was thus forty- three years of age, when Jon
Eggertsson secured the MS. of our story in Iceland.
Gudbrand's father was in his day by a long way the most
learned man in Iceland, his great rival, Bishop Brynjolf,
appearing on the scene first towards the close of Arngrim's
life. He was a collector of MSS. and author of standard
works upon the history and antiquities of his country. A
learned contemporary of his was Magnus Olafsson, priest of
Vellir and Laufas (1591-1636), both livings being within the
diocese of Holar, of which Arngrim was "officialis" for
five-and- thirty years (1596-1628). These two men knew one
another well enough; and both were ardent pursuers of one
and the same line of study. Now Magnus made himself famous
in the literary world by compiling a rearranged edition of
the "Prose Edda" from "Codex Wormianus", which goes by the
name of "Laufas Edda". Into this edition is incorporated a
strophe and a half by Guest, son of Thorhall, the slayer of
Stir, in which the killing of Stir in particular is
commemorated. This being the only edition of "Edda"
containing these verses, it is evident that they were culled
from a copy of our saga at least six-and-forty years before
that copy which Jon Eggerrsson secured left the country, in
all probability a good many years earlier. Now Jon
Eggertsson got his copy from the Northland, so presumably it
was the same that Magnus Olafsson had used for his "Edda".
It stands obviously to reason that Arngrim the Learned
should have known of this work in his friend's possession,
and should have obtained the loan of it, and thus a possible
link between the tradition known to his son, Gudbrand, and
"Heitharviga saga" itself would be obtained. On the
obliterated page of the original of our saga (Chapter XXXII)
there certainly is reference made to Bardi's bargaining with
friends and kindred for supplies for a "seta", body-guard,
but apparently it seems to refer to Asbiornsness. So much
seems certain, however, that what Bardi required must have
been very considerable, since one man contributed no less
than twelve wethers.
But whatever may be the real origin of
the popular tradition, the incontestable fact remains, that
once upon a time the peak-shaped fell, now called Burg-work
(Borgarvirki), towering to the height of some 800 feet above
the level of the sea between the two steads of Mickle-Burg
(Storaborg) and Little-Burg (Litla-Borg) in Willowdale, was
transformed by the labour of man into a military fortress.
We ourselves had an opportunity of visiting the work in our
trip to Iceland in 1871, and to inspect the by no means
inconsiderable fortifications thrown, in the shape of walls
made of large flat slabs, across all clefts in the natural
basaltic rock which offered access to the top, standing over
four feet thick, and in some places as many as ten feet
high. An interesting and minute description of the work is
given by Dr. B. M. Olsen, a native of the neighbourhood, in
"Arbok hins islenzka fornleifafelags 1880 og 1881," pp.
99-113, accompanied by a critical dissertation on the
Burg-Work tradition, and he, a first-rate antiquary and
scholar, comes to the conclusion that, since in the whole
history of that country-side there is no event with which
the really great works of fortification on the peak can be
connected, unless it be Bardi's war with the Burgfirthers,
we are not authorized at present to reject the existing
tradition as utterly unhistorical.
The chronology of our saga has given
great trouble hitherto. Its central date is, of course, the
year of the Heath-slayings, which by some is placed at 1013,
others at 1014 or 1018, and by the saga itself at 1021.
Vigfusson declares in favour of 1014, relying on the
statements of "Grettir's saga", "that the Heath- slayings
befell in the autumn that Grettir spent in Iceland after his
first journey abroad, but that year was 1014" ("Timatal",
460, cf. 473-474). He attaches particular weight to the
evidence of the old Resenius' annals, which also place the
Heath-fight in 1014.
At the time when Vigfusson wrote his
"Timatal", he, in common with contemporary scholars,
believed that the annalistic writings of Iceland were as old
as the historical, and the dates of the former were
independent of the latter. This opinion, which originated
with the Northland annalist, Bjorn Jonsson of Skarthsa, in
the seventeenth century, is radically refuted by Gustav
Storm in his excellent edition of "Islandske Annaler indtil
1578", where a whole array of evidence is brought together
to show, that annalistic writing in Iceland could not have
begun till a few years before 1300. For the saga period,
therefore, the evidence of the annals has no real weight,
since their dates depend on the evidence of the sagas
themselves, according as the annalists were able to reason
them out in each particular case. In this instance, thus,
the evidence of Resenius' annals falls through as worthless,
since evidently it depends on Grettir's saga. But what does
that saga's evidence amount to?
In chapter xxviii we are told that
Grettir came on a visit to his kinsman and former superior
playmate, Audun of Audunstead in Willowdale, and let loose
his horse to graze in the home-mead "where the grass was
highest" (lothnast, highest and thickest). This visit then
happened in June, before the mowing of the home-mead began;
mowing of home-fields having at all times in Iceland begun,
in ordinary years, at the end of June or in the first week
of July. Grettir, wanting to square old scores with Audun,
falls to wrestling with him, in the midst of which scuffle
Bardi arrives and separates the wrestlers. Grettir now
offers Bardi to join his expedition, "for I have heard that
thou art bent on going south to Burgfirth this summer."
Bardi accepted the offer gladly and (chap. xxxi) rode home
to Asbiornsness, and then to his foster-father, "who gladly
received him, and asked what he had earned in the way of
helpful following," etc.
This statement of Grettla's we can
pronounce at once as false. It is invented on the basis of
the Heath-slayings' story; but as we know it now, at least,
there is no mention made in it of any meeting between Bardi
and Grettir at any time, much less of Thorarin's disapproval
of Bardi's engagement of Grettir, which in "Grettir's saga"
is circumstantially related, and Thorarin's harangue kept
exactly in his wary, half-pious vein and anxious care not to
spoil his fosterling's chances by the admission into his
band of any whose fetch was one of lucklessness. It would be
incomprehensible how such an incident could ever have
dropped out of the Heath-fight's story having once got into
it. But there are more serious objections to be noted.
Grettir could not possibly have heard rumours in June or
July of that which was not resolved upon till "seven weeks
were left of summer," i.e., the latter end of August, and
then in strict secrecy, no one knowing the least about it
till the Sunday, when six weeks were left of summer, that
Bardi broke the secret in the folk-mote at Thingere. That
Bardi, therefore, as the Grettla clearly gives to
understand, should have been abroad recruiting his force in
June or July, is out of question, of course. Why, the whole
plot of the Heath-slayings' story turns really on one hinge,
namely, the observance of absolute secrecy as to Thorarin's
intentions, until they could be carried out in a shorter
time than it would take the rumour of them to cross the
mountains. This statement of Grettla, therefore, which
hitherto has served as a key-stone of the chronology of our
saga, is in itself of no worth, being a mere fabrication. If
it should happen to relate to the right year, it would be by
accident only.
Now the landmarks of time that our
story itself supplies are the following: the year that Bardi
was outlawed at the Althing he went abroad, but was
shipwrecked on the northern coast of Iceland, and spent the
winter with Gudmund of Maddervales (Mothruvellir) in
Eyiafirth; the next winter he was in Norway; the next to
that in Denmark, and in the following summer he set sail for
Iceland, arrived on the north coast, and -- "By this time
Gudmund was dead." Now the year of Gudmund's death was 1025;
so, counting back these years of Bardi's outlawry, we see
that he was in Denmark, 1024-1025, in Norway, 1023-1024, at
Maddervales, 1022-1023; consequently the Thing at which he
was outlawed was that of 1022, and the Heath-fight
accordingly befell in 1021. Against this evidence of the
saga itself Grettla's fictitious statement goes for nothing,
of course. Vigfusson is by no means indifferent to these
chronological facts, though he does not, on account of the
great importance he attaches to Grettla's evidence, see his
way to accept them. And it cannot be denied that a variety
of difficult points is raised by accepting the evidence of
our story. But to disallow it, considering that we have to
deal with the oldest Icelandic saga, preserved in the oldest
of all the saga vellums from Iceland, is obviously contrary
to all rules of sound criticism. However, the whole question
requires fresh overhauling, which it would be idle to
attempt within the limited space of a preface to a
translation of the saga.
Before
putting before the reader our translation of this good and
ancient Saga, we think it well to give a very brief abstract
of part of the story of Slaying-Stir, or rather of the
substance of that part, as given from memory after the
destruction of the MS., an account of which will be found in
the preface to this volume. We only give so much even of
this abstract as is necessary to the understanding of the
events told of in the Heath-slayings.
Slaying-Stir, the father-in-law of
Snorri the Priest, was a violent and very masterful and
unjust man. "Though he slew many men, he booted none."
Amongst other high-handed deeds he makes an enemy of one
Thorhall of Iorvi, and treats him so ill, that he makes up
his mind to flee the country-side at a time when he thinks
Stir is away at the Thing. But Stir misdoubts the matter,
waylays Thorhall, and slays him after a stout resistance.
Thorhall left two children behind him,
a girl, and a lad named Guest, the latter deemed somewhat of
a weakling. He lives on with goodman Thorleik, who took the
house of Iorvi after his father's death, and is brought up
there. Some time after Slaying-Stir comes to guest at
Thorleik's house where Guest is. Thorleik speaks for his
fosterling to Stir, and craves some atonement for the
slaying of Guest's father. Stir insults the lad grievously
by the offer of a mocking atonement, much as Thorbiorn
Thiodrekson does to old Howard.
Guest watches his opportunity and
slays Stir in Thorleik's hall, and escapes.
He then takes refuge with his friends
in Burgfirth, who, and especially Thorstein Gislison of By,
harbour him, Thorstein at last sending him out to Norway,
whence he goes to Constantinople, thrives there, and never
comes back to Iceland.
Snorri the Priest takes up the
blood-feud after Stir, and marches on the Burgfirthers who
had harboured Guest, intending to take legal vengeance on
them, since Guest had escaped him.
The Burgfirthers meet him in arms, and
he is foiled at first; but afterwards going with a small
band, and secretly, he slays Thorstein Gislison and his son
Gunnar. One Kolskegg is a foremost man in this slaying; he,
with others who were helping at it, goes to Norway. There
certain kinsmen of Thorstein, the sons of Harek, find out
that he is in the same town with them, and aim at killing
him and lifting his goods. Kolskegg seeks help of an
Icelander, called Hall, the son of Gudmund, a noble and
generous man, who gives him a ship and goods, wherewith he
escapes to England.
It must be understood that this Hall
has had nothing to do with the feud between Snorri and the
Burgfirthers; nevertheless, at this point begins the story
of the Heath-slayings. Hall, being now unshipped, takes
berth for Iceland with a man named Thorgils. The sons of
Harek find out that Hall has taken their foe out of their
power, and fix the feud on Hall, just as Snorri did on
Thorstein Gislison; they entrap him on an island off the
coast of Norway, where he and his shipmates had gone aland,
and slay him. The shipmaster, Thorgils, brings all Hall's
belongings to Iceland, but keeps this slaying hidden till
the Thing of the next summer. There he tells of it, and
Bardi, the second son of Gudmund (and henceforth the hero of
the story), offers his brother's goods to Thorgils, and
hardly can get him to take half of them.
Old Gudmund (the father) goes home
from the Thing, so heavy- hearted at the death of his son,
that he dies in a month's time. Hall was looked upon as far
the best of Gudmund's sons, and Bardi seems to have been
accounted of little worth.
It is told, that in the autumn after
the Thing above-mentioned, Bardi sat down in the seat of his
dead brother; whereon his mother fetches him a clout on the
head, and bids him be off, and not to dare sit in Hall's
seat while he is yet unavenged.
However, on Bardi lies the burden of
the blood-feud. But once more, as in the earlier case, the
slayers themselves are out of his reach; for the sons of
Harek, shortly after they had slain Hall, were cast away and
drowned. Therefore it is to the Burgfirthers, their kindred,
that Bardi must turn for atonement for his brother; and the
feud that follows takes the shape of something like a war
between the Burgfirthers, the southern men, and the men of
the north.
Bardi takes counsel of one Thorarin, a
wise and foreseeing man, who dwelt at Lechmote in
Willowdale, and was Bardi's foster- father. Thorarin advises
him to ask weregild of Harek on behalf of his sons at the
next Althing, and warns him to be moderate and forbearing.
Bardi follows his counsel, but Harek, being old, and having
handed all his own goods over to his heirs, says he cannot
pay, and turns him off on to his kindred. Bardi goes home
quietly, sees Thorarin, who bids him claim atonement again
peacefully as before; but he gets no further with his claim,
but is well spoken of by all the Mote for his mild conduct
of his case.
The third summer Bardi goes once more
to Thorarin, before he rides to the Thing he bids him claim
atonement in the same way as before, but tells him that he
thinks he will not have to do this again; for there is a man
come into the business, Gisli, the son of Thorstein, (1) a
boastful and masterful man (the same man to whom Grettir the
Strong gave the flogging), who will give him such an answer,
that the case will be easier to handle than before.
Bardi says he is loth to crave
atonement again, but will so do, because he knows that
Thorarin's counsels will turn out well for him.
We are now told of a man called
Lyng-Torfi, akin to the Gislungs (i.e., the kindred of
Thorstein Gislison). He was the greatest scoundrel and
ruffler, a strong man, a liar, and full of injustice. He
would beat men if he got not his will of them, and lifted
what he might; he was here and there about the land, and was
content nowhere.
This man Thorarin bade Bardi bring
north with him, if he were at the Thing, for that something
would come of it.
So Bardi comes to the Thing, and finds
Gisli there, and others of his kin, the Burgfirthers.
On a day amidst of the Thing, Bardi
goes to the Hill of Laws, and says:
"So are things waxen, that I have here
craved boot for Hall my brother twice already; need drave me
thereto, but little heed was paid to my case. But now
meseemeth that there is some hope in thee, Gisli, for paying
somewhat, so I need no longer welter in doubt; and most men
will say that we have not pushed the case very hardly;
therefore art thou the more bounden to answer well and
goodly."
No man answered before Gisli; he
spake, leaning forward on his spear-shaft: "Well, we ought
to answer somewhat, whereas thou drivest on thine errand,
and hast called on me openly, although I deem myself nowise
straightly bound up with this affair. Now last summer I was
in England at the place called Thuvaston; I sat in the
market-place, and had some money to spend, and it lay beside
me in a scrip, wherein were seven marks of silver. Now there
rode through the market certain hair-brained fellows, and
one of them came up to me, and stack his spear into my
scrip, and tossed it up to him, and rode away therewith, and
no more I wot thereof. Now that will I make over to thee for
thy brother's gild; for it seemeth to me this is like to thy
case, for I account that silver as a waif and stray; but no
money else will we lay down."
Then spake Eid Skeggison: "Let giant
hold his peace when naked at fire; evilly and witlessly is
this done, whereas such great men have part herein."
Gisli answereth: "He shouteth afar
that fighteth few; and that is to be looked for of thee that
thou wouldst speak up for thy kindred even as we have now
heard;" and he falls to foul words against Eid. But Eid
said: "We care not to bandy foul words with thee."
Now men speak with much good will of
Bardi's case, and think that the answer has been heavy, so
mildly as the claim was put forward withal.
Bardi meets Lyng-Torfi at the Thing,
and bids him home to him, as Thorarin had counselled. Bardi
goes to Thorarin, and tells him what had happened, and says
that it seemed to him to have gone heavily. But Thorarin
said:
"Now are things come whither I would,
and that has now been laboured out, that wise men look upon
the case even in the way we do ourselves; so that it is now
less hard to see where the revenge shall be brought home."
Bardi bade him be master therein.
That summer there was with Bardi in
his Thing-journey one Thord, the goodman at Broadford in
Waterdale; he had two horses, all white except for black
ears. These horses he deemed beasts so dear, that he would
not miss them for any other horses. But it befell for
Thord's faring-mishap that both these horses vanished away.
Now Lyng-Torfi abode behind at
Lechmote, and Thorarin treated him wondrous well, so that
Lyng-Torfi was light of heart.
There was a man hight Thorgaut, who
dwelt at a stead called Sleylech in Burgfirth, (2) a man now
much stricken in years, but he had been the stoutest of
fighters in his youth. He had a wife, and they two were
nought of one mind together, one willing this, the other
that; she was exceeding shrewish, and but middling wise.
Thorgaut had good weapons in his coffers, which he had not
handled since he had given up warfare.
Now a little after these things,
Thorarin fell to talk with Lyng- Torfi, and asked him, how
friendly he was with his kinsfolk. He answered that there
was little love lost between them.
"Wilt thou strike a bargain with me?"
says Thorarin. "It is told me that Thorgaut thy kinsman has
a good sword, and if thou wilt go and get it for me, I will
give thee some goodly stallions."
Lyng-Torfi is glad enough to do this;
so Thorarin hands over to him a big knife to give to
Thorgaut's wife, so that she may abet him.
"I hear tell," says Thorarin, "that
those weapons are wealthy of victory. Now thou wilt not be
at a loss, how to hatch a lie for a likely cause why thou
cravest the weapons."
Lyng-Torfi bids him have no fear of
that, and he goes eagerly into the bargain. Then he runs
south over the Heath, and comes of an evening down into
Whitewater-side to a kinsman of his, Thorbiorn, the son of
Bruni, who dwelt at the Walls. He is there the night over,
and bids him lend him a weapon, saying that a certain
Eastman north in Oxdale had challenged him to a single fight
about a woman whom both would have; and that the appointed
day was in a half-month's space, and that he might nowhere
get a weapon; and he tells a likely tale as to where he had
had night- harbours in his journey. Thorbiorn answers that
this will be all a lie, and that he will get no weapon of
him. Lyng-Torfi was ill content, and ran over to Thorgaut,
who had the sword, and tells him what business he has on
hand, and about his night-harbours as at the first house.
He was well taken in, but nothing
more. Then he prays Thorgaut to lend him a weapon, and says
that he will never be in more need of it than now. Thorgaut
answers, that other things lie nearer to him than to meddle
in Lyng-Torfi's brawls with other folk, and that he may look
to his own women-affairs himself, nor should he let go out
of his hand the sword to him. So Lyng-Torfi goes to
Thorgaut's wife, and tells her of his matter, and gives her
the knife; she takes it, and deems it a right good thing,
and runs at her swiftest to her husband, and is very
shrewish in talk, saying that it is a great shame that he
will not help his kindred at a pinch. "What hast thou, an
old fretting carle, to do with such a good weapon now thou
art off thy feet? It lieth rusting in the chest-bottom, and
by this time there is little avail in it."
He answers, as before, that Lyng-Torfi
is not so much to him, that he would let his sword go out of
his hand to him, that no man would ever have done such a
thing as to dare beset him with guile.
Then she goes and breaks open the
chest wherein lay the sword, and hands it over to
Lyng-Torfi, who straightway steals away for the north, and
brings it to Thorarin. Thorarin says that he has carried
through his errand well, and bids him take horses and fare
first northward a while, to put himself out of the way of
his kinsmen. Lyng-Torfi thanks him for the good gift, goes
away with the horses, and is out of the story.
[The old MS. of the "Heath-slayings
Saga" begins here, but with the broken end of a chapter
which will not yield any consecutive tale; and which
consequently we omit.]
Now Bardi and
his brethren had on hand much wright's work that summer, and
the work went well the summer through, whereas it was better
ordered than heretofore. Now summer had worn so far that but
six weeks (1) thereof were left. Then fares Bardi to
Lechmote to meet Thorarin his fosterer; often they talked
together privily a long while, and men knew not clearly what
they said.
"Now will there be a man-mote," says
Thorarin, "betwixt the Hope and Huna-water, at the place
called Thing-ere. But I have so wrought it that heretofore
none have been holden.
"Now shalt thou fare thither and prove
thy friends; because now I look for it that many men will be
together there, since man-motes have so long been put off.
In crowds they will be there, and I ween that Haldor thy
foster-brother will come thither. Crave thou fellowship of
him and avail, if thine heart is anywise set on faring away
from the country-side and the avenging of thy brother.
"A stead there is called Bank, lying
west of Huna-water;" there dwelt a woman hight Thordis,
by-named Gefn, a widow; there was a man with her over her
housekeeping, hight Odd, a mighty man of his hands, not
exceeding wealthy nor of great kin, but a man well renowned.
"Of him shalt thou crave following; for he shall rule his
answer himself."
"In that country is a place called
Blizzard-mere, where are many steads, one of which is
Middleham;" there dwelt a man hight Thorgisl; he was by kin
mother's sister's son of Gefn's-Odd; a valiant man and a
good skald, a man of good wealth, and a mighty man of his
hands. "Call thou on him to fare with thee.'
"A stead there is hight Bowerfell,
twixt Swinewater and Blanda; it is on the Necks to the
westward." There dwelt a man hight Eric, by-named
Wide-sight; he was a skald and no little man of might. "Him
shalt thou call to thy fellowship."
"In Longdale is a house called
Audolfstead," where dwelt the man hight Audolf; "he is a
good fellow and mighty of his hands; his brother is
Thorwald." He is not told of as having aught to do with the
journey; he dwelt at the place called Evendale, which lieth
up from Swinewater. "There are two steads so called." He was
the strongest man of might of all the North-country. "Him
shalt thou not call on for this journey, and the mood of his
mind is the reason for why."
"There is a stead called Swinewater;"
and there dwelt the man hight Summerlid, who was by-named
the Yeller, wealthy of fee and of good account. There dwelt
in the house with him his daughter's son who hight Thorliot,
Yeller's fosterling, a valiant man. "Pray him to be of thy
fellowship."
A man hight Eyolf dwelt at
Asmund's-nip, "which is betwixt the Water and Willowdale."
"Him shalt thou meet and bid him fare with thee; he is our
friend."
"Now meseemeth," saith he, "that
little will come of it though thou puttest this forward at
the man-mote; but sound them there about the matter, and say
thou. that they shall not be bound to fare with thee, if
thou comest not to each one of them on the Saturday whenas
it lacketh yet five weeks of winter. (2) And none such shalt
thou have with thee who is not ready to go, for such an one
is not right trusty. Therefore shalt thou the rather choose
these men to fare with thee than others of the country-
side, whereas they are near akin to each other; they are men
of good wealth, and so also their kinsmen no less; so that
they are all as one man. Withal they are the doughtiest men
of all who are here in Willowdale, and in all our parishes;
and they will be best willed towards thy furtherance who are
most our friends. Now is it quite another thing to have with
one good men and brave, rather than runagates untried, men
of nought, to fall back upon, if any trouble happen. Now
withal thy home-men are ready to fare with thee, and thy
neighbours, who are both of thy kindred and thine alliance:
such as Eyolf of Burg thy brother- in-law, a doughty man,
and a good fellow."
"There is a stead called Ternmere in
Westhope, where dwell two brothers." One was hight Thorod,
the other Thorgisl; they were the sons of Hermund, and
nephews (3) of Bardi as to kinship; men of good wealth,
great champions, and good of daring. "These men will be
ready to fare with thee."
Two brothers yet are named who lived
at Bardi's home, one hight Olaf, the other Day, sons of a
sister of Bardi s mother, and they had grown up there in
Gudmund's house; "they be ready to fare with thee."
Two men more are named, one hight Gris
and by-named Kollgris, a man reared there at Asbiorn's-ness.
He was a deft man and the foreman of them there, and had for
long been of good-will toward them.
The other hight Thord, by-named Fox;
he was the fosterling of Thurid and Gufimund. They had taken
him a little bairn from off the road, and had reared him. He
was a full ripe man, and well of his hands; and men say that
there was nought either of word or deed that might not be
looked for of him; Gudmund and his wife loved him much, and
made more of him than he was of worth. "This man will be
ready to fare from home with thee."
Now are the men named who were to fare
with Bardi.
And when they had held such talk, they
sundered.
The Lord's
day cometh Bardi to Lechmote, and rideth on thence to the
man-mote; and by then he came was much folk there come, and
good game is toward. Now were men eager for game, whereas
the man-motes had been dropped so long. Little was done in
the case, though men were busy in talk at that meeting.
Now the foster-brethren Haldor and
Bardi fell to talk together, and Bardi asks whether he would
fare with him somewhat from out the country-side that
autumn. Says Haldor: "Belike it will be found that on my
part I utter not a very manly word, when I say that my mind
is not made up for this journey. Now all things are ready
for my faring abroad, on which faring I have been twice bent
already. But I have settled this in my mind, if ever
perchance I may have my will, to be to thee of avail that
may be still greater, shouldst thou be in need of it, and
ever hereafter if thou be hard bestead; and this also is a
cause hereof, that there are many meeter than I for the
journey that, as my mind tells me, thou art bent on."
Bardi understood that so it was as he
said, and he said that he would be no worse friend to him
than heretofore.
"But I will bid thee somewhat," says
Haldor; "it befell here last summer, that I fell out with a
man hight Thorarin, and he was wounded by my onslaught. (1)
He is of little account for his own sake, but those men
claim boot for him of whose Thing he is, and of much account
are they. Now it is not meet for me to put Eilif and Hoskuld
from the boot, so I will thou make peace for me in the
matter, as I cannot bring myself to it, whereas I have nay-
said hitherto to offer them atonement."
Then goeth Bardi forthwith to meet
Eilif and Hoskuld, and straightway takes up the word on
behalf of Haldor, and they bespeak a meeting between
themselves for the appeasing of the case, when it lacked
four weeks of winter, at the Cliffs, Thorarin's dwelling.
Now cometh Bardi to speech with
Gefn's-Odd that he should fare with him south to Burgfirth.
Odd answereth his word speedily: "Yea,
though thou hadst called on me last winter, or two winters
ago, I had been all ready for this journey."
Then met Bardi Thorgisl, the sister's
son of Odd's mother, and put the same words before him. He
answereth: "That will men say, that thou hast not spoken
hereof before it was to be looked for, and fare shall I if
thou willest."
Then meeteth he Arngrim, the
fosterling of Audolf, and asked him if he would be in the
journey with him; and he answereth: "Ready am I, when thou
art ready."
The same talk held he with all them
afore-named, and all they took his word well.
Now spake Bardi: "In manly wise have
ye dealt with me herein; now therefore will I come unto you
on the Saturday, when it lacketh five weeks of winter; and
if I come not thus, then are ye nowise bound to fare with
me."
Now ride men home from the man-mote,
and they meet, the foster- father and son, Thorarin and
Bardi, and Bardi tells him of the talk betwixt him and
Haldor. Thorarin showed that it liked him well, and said
that the journey would happen none the less though Haldor
fared not. "Yea, he may yet stand thee in good stead. And
know that I have made men ware of this journey for so short
a while, because I would that as late as might be aforehand
should it be heard of in the country of those Burgfirthers."
Now wears the
time, till Friday of the sixth week, and at nones of that
day home came the home-men of Bardi, and had by then pretty
much finished with their hay-work.
Bardi and his brethren were without,
when the workmen came, and they greeted them well. They had
their work-tools with them, and Thord the Fox was dragging
his scythe behind him.
Quoth Bardi: "Now draggeth the Fox his
brush behind him."
"So is it," saith Thord, "that I drag
my brush behind me, and cock it up but little or nought; but
this my mind bodes me, that thou wilt trail thy brush very
long or ever thou avenge Hall thy brother."
Bardi gave him back no word in
revenge, and men go to table.
Those brethren were speedy with their
meat, and stood up from table straightway, and Bardi goeth
up to Thord the Fox and spake with him, laying before him
the work he shall do that evening and the day after,
Saturday to wit.
Forty haycocks lay yet ungathered
together in Asbiorn's-ness; and he was to gather them
together, and have done with it that evening. "Moreover,
to-morrow shalt thou fare to fetch our bell- wether hight
the Flinger, whereas our wethers be gone from the
sheepwalks, and come into the home-pastures."
Now he bade Thord to this, because the
wether was worse to catch than other sheep, and swifter
withal. "Now further to-morrow shalt thou go to Ambardale,
and fetch home the five-year-old ox which we have there, and
slaughter him, and bring all the carcass south to Burg on
Saturday. (1) Great is the work, but if thou win it not,
then shalt thou try which of us bears the brush most cocked
thenceforward."
Thord answered and said that often he
had heard his big threats; and thereof he is nowise blate.
Now rideth Bardi in the evening to
Lechmote, and the brethren together, and Bardi and Thorarin
talk together the evening through.
Now it is to
be told of Thord's business, how he got through with it. He
gathered together the hay which had stood less safely; and
when he came home, then was the shepherd about driving the
sheep out to the Cliffs, and Thord rides the horse whereon
he had been carting the evening long. Now he finds the flock
of wethers to which he had been told off, but could not
overhaul them till he got out to Hope-oyce; so he slaughters
that wether and rideth home with the carcass. By this time
he has foundered the horse; so he takes another, and gallops
over the dale, as forthright the way lay, nor did he heed
whether he was faring by night or by day. He cometh to
Ambardale in early morn, and getteth the ox, and
slaughtereth him and dighteth him, bindeth the carcass on
his horse, and going his ways cometh home again, and layeth
down the carcass. Then he taketh out the carcass of the
wether, and when he cometh back one limb of the ox is gone.
No good words spake Thord thereover; but a man owneth that
he had taken it away, and bids him be nought so bold as to
speak aught thereof unless he would have a clout. So Thord
taketh the rest of the carcass, and fareth south to Burg as
he had been bidden.
There Alof, the sister of Bardi, and
her foster-mother taketh in the flesh-meat. The
foster-mother also hight Alof, a wise woman, and
foster-mother also of Bardi and the other sons of Gudmund.
She was called Kiannok, and thus by that name were the two
Alofs known apart. Alof, Bardi's fosterer, was wise
exceedingly; she could see clearly a many things, and was
well-wishing to the sons of Gudmund. She was full of lore,
and ancient things were stored in her mind.
Now must it
be told what wise they talked together, Thorarin his
fosterer and Bardi, before Bardi got to the road; they
talked of a many things.
It was early of the Saturday morning,
whereon he should go meet his fellows who were to fare with
him. But when he was ready to ride, there were led forth two
horses, white with black ears either of them. Those horses
did Thord of Broadford own, and they had vanished away that
summer from the Thing.
Now spake Thorarin: "Here are Thord's
horses; thou shalt go and bring them to him, and take no
reward therefor: neither is it worth rewarding; for I it was
who caused them to vanish away, and they have been in my
keeping, and hard enough matter for me has it been to see to
their not being taken and used. But for this cause let I
take these horses, that meseemed it would be more of an
errand to ask after these horses than mere jades. So I have
often sent men south to Burgfirth this summer to ask after
them. Meseemed that was a noteworthy errand, and that they
would not see through my device; and I have but newly sent a
man south, and from the south will he come to-morrow, and
tell us tidings of the South-country."
Now just then was there a market
toward at Whitewater-meads, and ships were come from the
main but a little while before these things befell.
Now rideth
Bardi thence and cometh to Bank, whereas dwelt Thordis, and
there stood a saddled horse and a shield there beside him,
and they rode home to the house with much din in the
home-mead over the hard field.
Without there was a man, and a woman
with him, who was washing his head; and these were Thordis
and Odd, and she had not quite done the washing of his head,
and had not yet washed the lather therefrom.
So straightway when he saw Bardi he
sprang up, and welcomed him laughing.
Bardi took his greeting well, and bade
the woman finish her work and wash him better.
Even so he let her do, and arrayed
himself and went with Bardi.
Now came they north over Blanda to
Broadford, and brought Thord his horses,
It is to be told that, at that time in
the week just worn, was Thorgisl Arason ridden north to
Eyiafirth, whereas he was to be wedded at Thwartwater, and
he was to be looked for from the north the next week after.
Thord takes his horses well, and offers some good geldings
as a reward. But Bardi said that he would take no reward
therefor; and such, he said, was the bidding of him who had
found the horses. "Thou, friend," saith he, "shalt be my
friend at need."
Then Bardi rides into Longdale, and
over the meadows close anigh to the stead of Audolf; and
they saw how a man rode down from the home-mead, and they
deemed it would be Arngrim their fellow; and he rideth with
them.
Now ride they west over Blanda to Eric
Widesight, and they came there by then the sheep were being
tended at morning-meal time, betwixt noon and day-meal, and
they come on the shepherd and ask him whether Eric were at
home.
He said that Eric was a-horseback at
sunrise, "and now we know not whither he has ridden."
"What thinkest thou mostlike as to
where he has ridden?" says Bardi. For it cometh into his
mind that he will have slunk away, and will not fare with
them. But nought was it found to be so that he had slunk off
away. Now they saw two men riding down along Swinewater; for
thence from the stead one could see wide about, and they
knew them for Eric Wide-sight and Thorliot, Yeller's
fosterling. They met there whereas the water hight Laxwater
falleth out of Swinewater, and either greeted the other
well.
Now they ride till they come to
Thorgisl of Middleham; they greeted each other well and ride
away thence and come hard on Gorge-water. Then said Bardi
that men should ride to the stead at Asmund's-nip and meet
Eyolf Oddson. "There rideth a man," said he, "nor laggardly
either, from the stead, and down along the river; and
meseemeth," saith he, "that there will be Eyolf; I deem that
he will be at the ford by then we come there; so ride we
forth."
So did they, and saw a man by the
ford, and knew him for Eyolf; and they met and greeted each
other well. Then they go their ways and come to the place
called Ash in Willowdale. Then there came riding up to meet
Bardi and his fellowship three men in coloured raiment, and
they met presently, whereas each were riding towards the
other; and two sister's sons of Bardi were in that company,
and one hight Lambkar and the other Hun; but the third man
in their fellowship was a Waterdaler. They had all come out
and landed west in Willowdale, but Gudbrand their father and
Gudrun their mother dwelt west in Willowdale, at the stead
called thereafter Gudbrandstead. (1)
Now was there a joyful meeting betwixt
those kinsmen, whereas Bardi met his sister's sons, and
either told the other what tidings there were.
Bardi tells of his journey, whither he
was bound.
These men were eighteen winters old,
and had been abroad one winter. They were the noblest of men
both for goodlihead and might, and goodly crafts and
deftness, and moreover they would have been accounted of as
doughty of deed even had they come already to their full
age.
Now they took counsel together, and
said that they were minded to betake them to the journey
with them, but their fellow fared away into Willowdale.
Now Bardi rides till he comes to
Lechmote, and tells his fosterer how matters stood. Thorarin
says: "Now shalt thou ride home to Asbiorn's-ness; (2) but
to-morrow will I ride to meet thee, and Thorberg my son with
me; and then will I ride on the way with you."
Now fares
Bardi home with his fellowship, and abides at home that
night. On the morrow Kollgris arrays them breakfast; but the
custom it was that the meat was laid on the board before
men, and no dishes there were in those days. Then befell
this unlooked- for thing, that three portions were gone from
three men. Kollgris went and told Bardi thereof.
"Go on dighting the board," said he,
"and speak not thereof before other men."
But Thurid (1) said that to those sons
of hers he should deal no portion of breakfast, but she
would deal it.
Kollgris did even so, and set forth
the board, a trencher for each man, and set meat thereon.
Then went in Thurid and laid a portion
before each of those brethren, and there was now that
ox-shoulder cut up in three.
Taketh up Steingrim the word and said:
"Hugely is this carved, mother, nor hast thou been wont to
give men meat in such measureless fashion. Unmeasured mood
there is herein, and nigh witless of wits art thou become."
(2)
She answereth: "No marvel is this, and
nought hast thou to wonder thereat; for bigger was Hall thy
brother caryen, and I heard ye tell nought thereof that any
wonder was that."
She let a stone go with the flesh-meat
for each one of them; and they asked what that might
betoken. She answereth: "Of that ye brethren have most which
is no more likely for avail than are these stones (for
food), insomuch as ye have not dared to avenge Hall your
brother, such a man as he was; and far off have ye fallen
away from your kinsmen, the men of great worth, who would
not have sat down under such shame and disgrace as yea long
while have done, and gotten the blame of many therefor."
Then she walked up along the floor
shrieking, and sang a stave:
"I say that the cravers of songs of the battle
Now soon shall be casting their shame-word on Bardi.
The tale shall be told of thee, God of the wound-worm,
That thy yore-agone kindred with shame thou undoest;
Unless thou, the ruler of light once a-lying
All under the fish-road shall let it be done,
That the lathe-fire's bidders at last be red-hooded.
Let all folk be hearkening this song of my singing."
Then they
thrust the trenchers from them with all that was on them,
and go to their horses and get ready at their speediest.
That was on a Sunday when it lacked
five weeks of winter.
So they leap a-horseback and ride away
out of the home-mead.
Now see those brethren of Thurid their
mother, that she was gotten aback of the horse that they
called Yokeard, and had called to her a housecarle for her
fellow, a man not named, but of whom it is said that he had
no bottom of wits.
Then said Bardi: "This turneth toward
mishap that she has taken to this journey; and this might we
well lack; so now let us seek rede and help her to come down
(off the nag)."
Then he calleth to him his home-men
Olaf and Day.
"Now shall ye two," said Bardi, "ride
to meet her, and talk with her seemly and fair; but do as I
bid you. Ye shall say that it is well that she has come on
the journey with us, and bid the house-carle give her good
following. Ye shall steady her in the saddle, and so ride
until you come as far forth as Saxlech;" it falls out of
Westhope-water and down into Willowdale-water. A piece of
road whereon folk are wont to give spur to their horses,
leads to the brook from the north, and also forth from it;
"and then shall ye spring her saddle-girths. Day shall do
that, making as if he would girth up her horse, when ye come
to the brook; then down with her from horseback, so that she
fall into the brook, saddle and all; and bring the horse
away with you."
So they rode to meet her, and greeted
her well. She saith: "So it is ye two, who betake you to
this, to ride to meet me and honour me, rather than my
sons?"
"They bade us do this errand," say
they.
She says: "For this cause am I come on
this journey, that then meseemeth the less will certain
great deeds fall short, whereas there shall be no lack of
egging on now, and forsooth there is need thereof."
They say that it will be of much avail
this her faring with them. So they rode till they came up to
Saxlech; then spake Day: "Thy follower is but a natural,
Thurid, and he has not so girthed thine horse that it will
do; it is a mighty shame to have such a thing as he to
follow doughty women."
"Do thou girth the horse better,
then," says she, "and follow me thereafter."
He falls to now, and springs the
girths of the carline's horse, and so she, saddle and all,
falls into Saxlech, even as those fellows had been bidden.
Thurid ran no risk of hurt there, and crawled out of the
brook. The two men rode away, and had the horse with them.
Thurid got home in the evening with her house- carle, and
was nowise fain of her errand.
Now Bardi and
his flock ride their ways till they are but a little short
of Burg. Then ride up certain men to meet them, who but
Thorarin the Priest, Bardi's fosterer, and Thorberg his son.
They straightway fall to talk, and the
fosterer and fosterling come to speech. "Nay,
foster-father," saith Bardi, "great is the sword which thou
layest there across thy knee."
"Hast thou not seen me have this
weapon before, thou heedful and watchful?" saith Thorarin.
"So it is, I have not had it before. And now shall we two
shift weapons; I shall have that which thou now hast."
So did they; and Bardi asks whence it
came to him. He told him, with all the haps of how it fared
betwixt him who owned it and Lyng-Torfi, and how he had
drawn him in to seek the weapons. "But Thorberg my son hath
the other weapon, and Thorbiorn owns that, but Thorgaut owns
that which thou hast. Most meet it seemed to me, that their
own weapons should lay low their pride and masterful mood;
therefore devised I this device, and therewithal this, that
thou mightest avenge thee of the shame that they have done
to thee and thy kindred. Now will I that thou be true to my
counsel with me, such labour as I have put forth for thine
honour."
Now ride they into the home-mead of
Burg unto Eyolf, the brother- in-law of those brethren.
There were two harnessed horses before the door when Bardi
came into the garth; and on one of them was the victual of
the brethren, and were meant for provision for their
journey; and that was the meaning of the new-slain flesh-
meat which Bardi let bring thither erst; but Alof their
sister and Kiannok, Bardi's foster-mother, had dight the
same.
Now Eyolf leaps a-horseback and is all
ready to ride into the home-mead from the doors. Then came
out a woman and called on Bardi, and said that he should
ride back to the doors, and that she had will to speak with
him; and she was Alof, his sister. He bade the others ride
on before, and said that he would not tarry them.
So he cometh to the door and asketh
her what she would. She biddeth him light down and come see
his foster-mother. So did he, and went in. The carline was
muttering up at the further end of the chamber, as she lay
in her bed there. "Who goeth there now?" says she.
He answereth: "Now is Bardi here; what
wilt thou with me, foster- mother?"
"Come thou hither," saith she;
"welcome art thou now. Now have I slept," saith she, "but I
waked through the night arraying thy victual along with thy
sister. Come thou hither, and I will stroke thee over."
Bardi did according to her word, for
he loved her much.
She fell to work, beginning with the
crown of his head and stroked him all over right down to the
toes.
Bardi said: "What feelest thou herein,
and what art thou minded will be, that thou strokest me so
carefully?"
She answereth: "I think well of it;
nowhere meseemeth is aught in the way of a big bump, to come
upon."
Bardi was a big man and stark of pith,
and thick was the neck of him; she spans his neck with her
hands, and taketh from her sark a big pair of beads which
was hers, and winds it about his neck, and draggeth his
shirt up over it.
He had a whittle at his neck in a
chain, and that she let abide. Then she bade him farewell;
and he rideth away now after his fellows; but she called
after him, "Let it now abide so arrayed, as I have arrayed
it; and meseemeth that then things will go well."
Now when he
cometh up with his fellowship, they ride their ways.
Thorarin fared long on the road with them, and layeth down,
how they shall go about their journey, deeming that much lay
on it that they should fare well.
"A place for guesting have I gotten
you," saith he, "in Nipsdale, (1) which ye shall take. The
bonder whereas ye shall harbour to-night is one Nial. So it
is told," said he, "that, as to other men, he is no great
thane with his wealth, though he hath enough; but this I wot
that he will take you in at the bidding of my word. But now
is the man come hither who last night rode from Burgfirth
and the south, he whom I sent south this week to wot tidings
of the country-side. And this he knoweth clearly as a true
tale, that Hermund Illugison will be at the market the
beginning of this week with many other men of the
country-side. This also ye will have heard, that those
brethren, the sons of Thorgaut, have a business on their
hands this summer, to wit, to mow the meadow which is called
Goldmead; and now is the work well forward, so that it will
be done on Wednesday of this week; so that they must needs
be at home. Now I have heard that which they are wont to
fall to speech of, those Gislungs, when there is any clatter
or noise; then say they, 'What! Will Bardi be come?' and
thereof make they much jeering and mocking for the shaming
of you. Now it is also told north here, and avouched to be
thoroughly true, that this have the men of the country-side
agreed to, that if any tidings befall in the country such as
be of men's fashioning, then shall all men be bound to ride
after them, the reason thereof being that Snorri the Priest
and his folk slept but a short way from the steads after
that slaying and big deed of his. And everyone who is not
ready hereto shall be fined in three marks of silver, if he
belong to those who have 'thingfare-pay' (2) to yield, from
Havenfells to North-water, whereas there dwelleth the
greatest number of the Thingmen of the Sidefolk and those of
Flokis-dale. So ride ye on the Monday from Nial's, and fare
leisurely and have night-harbour on the Heath" (thence gat
it the name of Two-day's Heath), "and ye shall come to those
two fighting-steads which be on the Heath, as ye go south,
and look to it if they be as I tell you. There is a place
called the Mires on the Heath, whence the fall of water is
great; and in the northern Mire is a water whereinto
reacheth a ness, no bigger at its upper part than nine men
may stand abreast thereon; and from that mere waters run
northward to our country-sides; and thither would I bid you
to. But another fighting-stead is there in the southern
Mire, which I would not so much have you hold as the other,
and it will be worse for you if you shall have to make a
shift there for safeguard. There also goeth a ness into the
water. Thereon may eighteen men stand abreast, and the
waters fall thence from that mere south into the country.
"But ye shall come south on Wednesday
to the fell-bothies whenas all men are gone from the bothies
all up and down Copsedale; for all the Sidemen have mountain
business there, and there hitherto have tarried. Now
meseemeth that ye will come thither nigh to nones of the
day. Then shall two of your company ride down into the
country-side there, and along the fell, and so to the
Bridge, and not come into the peopled parts till ye are
south of the river. Then shall ye come to the stead called
Hallward-stead, and ask the goodman for tidings, and ask
after those horses which have vanished away from the
North-country. Ye shall ask also of tidings from the market.
Then will ye see on Goldmead, whereas ye fare down along the
river, whether men be a mowing thereon, even as the rumour
goes.
"Then shall ye ride up along to the
ford, and let the goodman show you the way to the ford; and
so ride thence up towards the Heath and on to the Heath,
whence ye may look down on Goldmead whereas ye fare along
the river. Now on Wednesday morning shalt thou fare down on
to the bridge, whence ye may see what may be toward in the
country-side; and thou shalt sunder thy company for three
places, to wit, the eighteen all told; but the nineteenth
shall abide behind to heed your horses, and that shall be
Kollgris, and let them be ready when ye need to take to
them.
"Now six men shall be up on the
bridge; (3) and I shall make it clear who they shall be, and
why it shall be arrayed that way. There shall be those
kinsmen Thorgisl of Middleham and Arngrim, and Eric
Wide-sight, and Thorliot, Yeller's fosterling, and Eyolf of
Asmund's-nip; and for this reason shall they sit there,
because they would be the stiffest to thee and the hardest
to sway whenas ye come into the country-side, and it
behoveth you not that ye lack measure and quieting now and
again.
"But midway shall sit other six: the
brethren Thorod and Thorgisl of Ternmere" (the sons of the
brother of Bardi's father), "then the third man who came
instead of Haldor; therewithal shall be the sons of thy
mother's sister, Hun and Lambkar; and Eyolf, thy
brother-in-law, for the sixth; they shall be somewhat more
obedient to thy counsel, and not fare with suchlike fury.
And for this reason shall they sit there, that they may look
on the goings of men about the country-side.
"But ye six shall fare down (into the
country), to wit, thou and Stein and Steingrim, thy
brethren, and Olaf and Day and Thord. They will be the most
obedient to thy word; yet shall ye have strength enough for
those on the Mead.
"Now shall ye fare away forthright
after ye have done them a scathe whereas the chase will not
fail you, and less labour will they lay thereon, if there be
but seen six men of you, and there will not be a great
throng at your heels if so ye go on.
"Now shall ye ride away at your
swiftest (4) until ye are come to the northern
fighting-stead upon the Heath; because that thence all
verdicts go to the north, and therein is the greatest avail
to you that so things should turn out.
"And yet I misdoubt me that thou wilt
not bring this about, because of the frowardness of them
that follow thee.
"Now must we sunder for this while,
and meet we hail hereafter."
Now comes
Bardi with his flock to Nial's in the evening. Nial is
standing without, and bids them all guesting as one merry
with ale; that they take, let loose their horses, and sit
them down on either bench. Nial is without that evening, and
his wife with him, dighting victual for their guests; but
his young lad was within, and made game with them.
Bardi asked the lad if he had ever a
whetstone. "I wot," saith he, "of a hard-stone which my
father owns, but I durst not take it."
"I will buy it of thee," saith Bardi,
"and give thee a whittle therefor."
"Yea," said the lad, "why then should
I not strike a bargain with thee;" and goeth and findeth the
hard-stone, and giveth it to Bardi. Bardi handles it, and
taketh the whittle from his neck, and therewith was somewhat
shifted the pair of beads which the carline had done about
his neck, whereof is told sithence.
Now they whet their weapons, and the
lad thinketh he hath done them a good turn, whereas they
have what they needed. So there they abide the night
through, and have good cheer.
They ride their ways on the Monday in
good weather, and go not hard. Bardi asks of Eric Wide-sight
what wise he deemed things would go. He answereth:
"O Lime-tree, upbearer of board of the corpses,
We nineteen together have gone from the Northland;
All over the Heath have we wended together,
And our will is to nourish the bloodfowl with victual.
But, O lad of the steed that is stalled on the rollers,
The steed of the sea-rover Heite, well wot we
That fewer shall wend we our ways from the Southland.
Now the mind of the singer is bent on the battle."
Now they
abide there on the Heath night-long, and on the morrow they
ride into Copse, and that was about nones of the day; but
when they had baited there a while, then ride two men of
them down into the peopled parts, as Thorarin had bidden;
they came to no homesteads and met no people, but went the
mountain way all along till they came to the Bridge, and so
at last to Hallward- stead, and saw doings clearly on
Goldmead, and saw that there were carles on the meadow, who
were mowing, all in their shirts, and it seemed to them that
there would be a day's mowing yet to do, even as had been
said. So they find the goodman, and fell to talk with him,
and asked him of tidings, but neither he nor they had any to
tell, and they asked after those horses which they had come
to seek, and in search of which men had been sent so oft
before. He said he wotted no whit where they were, and bade
them, for all he cared, harp on this for ever and ever.
They asked what tidings there might be
from the market, and what kind of a throng was there. He
said he had not clearly heard what had betid there, and that
he deemed it no matter either way. Then they bade him show
them the way up along the river to the ford. So did he; and
they parted therewith, and they went to meet their fellows
and tell them how matters stood; and there they sleep the
night away.
Now must
somewhat be told about the men of that country who now come
into our matter. Thorbiorn Brunison rose up early at Walls,
and bade his house-carle rise with him. "To-day shall we
fare to Thorgaut to the stithy, and there shall we smithy."
Now that was early, just at the sun's
uprising. Thorbiorn called for their breakfast, and nought
is told of what of things was brought forward, but that the
goodwife set a bowl on the board. Thorbiorn cried out that
he was nought well served, and he drave the bowl betwixt the
shoulders of her. She turned about thereat, and cried out
aloud, and was shrewish of tongue, and either was hard on
the other.
"Thou hast brought that before me,"
said he, "wherein there is nought save blood, and a wonder
it is that thou seest nothing amiss therein."
Then she answereth calmly: "I brought
nought before thee which thou mightest not well eat; and
none the worse do I think of the wonder thou seest, whereas
it betokens that thou shalt be speedily in hell. For
assuredly this will be thy fetch."
He sang a stave:
"The wealth-bearing stem that for wife we are owning,
The black coif of widowhood never shall bear
For my death; though I know that the field of the necklace
All the days of my life neath the mould would be laying:
She who filleth the ale round would give for my eating
The apples of hell-orchard. Evil unheard of!
But that wealth-bearing board now will scarcely meseemeth
Have might for the bringing this evil about."
Then she
springs away, and takes a cheese-loaf and casts it down
before him. But she sat on the dais on the other side and
wept. Then Thorbiorn sang another stave:
"Yea, he who spurs onward the steed of the drift
Of the fair-bestroked courser of sea-roving Ati,
Hath nothing of thanks for the wife that bewails him,
While yet he fares quick on the face of the earth.
For she, the fair isle of the wrist-flame, meseemeth,
Will think it o'er irksome to have, when she flitteth
The friend of the heath-prowlers under the earth,
To speed him with heavy rain over the cheek."
"Now moreover
things are shifting in uncouth fashion. Meseems as if both
gable-walls have fallen away from the house, and I seem to
see a mighty river running through the house from the north
of the Heath; and of mould it seems to me, and of nought
else tastes the cheese which I am eating."
Therewith they spring up from the
board, and go to their horses and leap aback, and ride out
from the garth.
Then Thorbiorn took up the word:
"Dreamed have I in the night," saith he.
The house-carle asked: "What dreamedst
thou?"
He said: "Methought I was standing
there whereas folk were not all of one mind. And I thought I
had that sword which I was wont to bear in my hand, but
which as now is not at home; and straightway it brake
asunder when I hewed forth with it. Methought also that I
sang two staves in my sleep; and both of them I remember:
"O grove of the mote of the maidens of battle,
A dream have I dreamed me, and now will I duly
Make hard and hard woven my song-tale the noble;
'Twas the white wand of shields, of the holme of the
helm-wolf,
The buckler, there brake it asunder, so deemed I,
In the place where the blood-reeds clashed bickering
together,
At a meeting most seemly of him who is wonted
To seek out the haunts of the hanged for a gossip.
"O Balder, that heeds the dear lair of the dale-fish,
O how well it were if I then had been bearing
A wound-wand unflawed in the din of the welter,
Where light leaps the keel of the rim of the
war-board;
And I with my head-bone unhurt in the battle.
If I bore but the brand that will bring unto death
Of the warriors of menfolk not few, but a many.
And e'en such might I hold it until my life's
ending."
He who
followed Thorbiorn learned both these staves as they rode.
Now Thorbiorn peers about him. "Yea,"
saith he, "at home lieth now the smithying stuff, or else it
hath fallen down. Go thou back again and seek it; and if
thou find it on the way, then fare thou to the stithy; but I
will ride on ahead. But if thou find it not on the road,
then fare thou to thy work."
So they sunder, but the house-carle
found not the smithying stuff.
Now Thorbiorn rideth to Thorgaut his
kinsman, to his stithy, and meeteth him before daymeal-tide;
each greeted the other and asked for tidings, and neither
had aught to tell the other.
Now it is said that those sons of
Thorgaut rise up all of them, and go to the mowing of
Goldmead, and they spake between themselves how fair-like
the weather looked, and that Goldmead would be mown that
same day; they go to the meadow, and doff their clothes and
weapons.
Gisli went over the meadow awhile, and
looked on that which they were minded to mow, and he took
his stand and sang a stave.
He told of a dream of his, that him
thought they were standing on Goldmead, and there came on
them many wolves and dealt with them there, and great was
the work there: "And methought I woke therewith, that I ran
home to the stead."
Then they fall to work and mow a
while.
Now has Bardi
arrayed his folk in their lurking-places, as his fosterer
had taught him, even as is aforesaid, and he tells them all
what he had forecast in his mind.
Then they were somewhat better content
therewith, and deemed that what was minded would be brought
about; and they gave out that they liked this array, so to
say, but they said nevertheless that to their minds the
doings would be but little.
There was then a big wood on
Whitewater-side, such as in those days were wide about the
land here, and six of them sat down above the wood, and saw
clearly what befell on Goldmead. Bardi was in the wood, and
well-nigh he and the six of them within touch of them that
were a-mowing. Now Bardi scans heedfully how many men were
at the mowing; and he deemed that he did not clearly know
whether the third man, who was white about the head, would
be a woman, or whether it would be Gisli.
Now they went down from under the wood
one after other; and it seemed first to those sons of
Thorgaut as if but one man went there; and Thormod, who
mowed the last in the meadow, took up the word. "There go
men," said he.
"But it seemeth to me," said Gisli,
"that but one man goeth there;" but they went hard, yet did
not run.
"That is not so," said Ketil Brusi;
"men are there, and not so few."
So they stood still, and looked
thereon, and Ketil said: "Will not Bardi be there? That is
not unlike him; and no man have I skill to know if yon be
not he. And that wise was he arrayed last summer at the
Thing."
Those brethren, Ketil and Thormod,
looked on; but Gisli went on mowing and took up the word.
"So speak .ye," said he, "as if Bardi would be coming from
out of every bush all the summer. And he has not come yet."
Bardi and his folk had portioned out
the men to them beforehand, that two should fall on each one
of them. Bardi and Stein were to take Ketil Brusi, who was
mighty of strength; Day and Olaf were to go against Gisli;
Steingrim and Thord were to go against Thormod. So now they
turn on them.
Now spake Ketil: "No lie it was that
Bardi is come!"
They would fain catch up their
weapons, but none of them gat hold of the weapons.
Now when they see into what plight
they were come, Gisli and Ketil would run for the homemead
garth, and Bardi and four of his fellows followed after
them; but Thormod turns down to the river, and after him
went Thord and Steingrim, and chased him into the river and
stoned him from the shore; he got him over the river, and
came off well.
Now came those brethren to the garth,
and Ketil was the swifter, and leapt over it into the mead;
but whenas Gisli leapt at the garth, a turf fell therefrom,
and he slipped; therewith came up Bardi, who was the
swiftest of those men, and hewed at him with the sword
Thorgaut's-loom, and hewed off well-nigh all the face of
him.
Straightway then he turns to meet his
fellows, and tells them that something of a wound had been
wrought. They said that the onset was but little and
unwarrior-like. But he said that things would have to be as
they were. "And now shall we turn back."
Needs must he rule, though it was much
against their will.
But Ketil dragged Gisli in over the
garth, and cast him on his back, and they saw that he was no
heavy burden to him; and he ran home to the stead.
Thorbiorn and Thorgaut were in the
stithy abiding till the house- carle should come back with
the smithying stuff.
Now Thorgaut spake: "Yea, there is
great noise and clatter; is not Bardi come?"
Even in that nick of time came Ketil
into the stithy, and said: "That found Gisli thy son, that
come he is;" and he cast him dead before his feet.
Now Bardi turns to meet his fellows,
and said that he was minded that now man was come to be set
against man. Quoth they, that the men were nowise equal, and
that little had been done though one man had been slain, and
so long a way as they had fared thereto.
So when all the fellowship met, then
said they who had been higher up in the lurking-places, that
full surely they would not have fared if they had known they
should thus have to leave off in this way, that no more
vengeance should follow after such a grief as had been done
them, and they said that Gisli and Hall were men nowise
equal. And they laid blame on Bardi, and said that they were
minded to think that more would have been done if they had
stood anear. Then they went to their horses, and said that
they would have breakfast. Bardi bade them have no heed of
breakfast, but they said that they had no will to fast. "And
we know not how to think whatwise thou wouldst have come
away if thou hadst done that wherein was some boldness."
Bardi said that he heeded not what
they said. So they had their meat.
Now Thorgaut
and Thorbiorn and Ketil, they talk together at home there.
Thorgaut says that great is the hap befallen; "and the blow
has lighted nigh to me; yet meseemeth that no less may be
looked for yet, and I will that there be no tiding after
them."
They say both that that shall never
be. The women heard what had been said, and Ketil sends them
out to Frodistead and Side-mull to tell the tidings; and
then might each tell the other thence-forth, till the word
should come into Thwartwater-lithe, and over
Northwater-dale, for men to ride after them who have wrought
this deed, and so put off from them forfeits and fines.
They fare then, and take their horses
and ride to Highfell to see Arni Thorgautson; he there might
welcome men allied to him, for thither was come Thorarin of
Thwartwater-lithe, the father of Astrid his wife: thence
ride they five together.
Now it is to be told of Thormod that
he fared up along south of the river till he came to the
Ridge. In that time south of the river was scantily housed.
There were but few folk at home there, for the men were gone
to Whitewater-meads, and the house- carles were at work. Eid
was sitting at the chess, and his sons with him, the one
hight Illugi, the other Eystein. Thormod tells him of the
tidings that have befallen. There was, in those days and
long after, a bridge over the river beside Biarnisforce. Eid
nowise urged the journey, but his two sons grip their
weapons and take to the way. The brethren go to Thorgisl of
Hewerstead, and by then was come home Eyolf his son, who had
come out to Iceland that same summer.
Thormod fares up to Hallkeldstead, and
comes thither and tells the tidings. Tind was the one carle
at home there; but men were come thither to the stithy.
A woman dwelt next thereto who hight
Thorfinna, and was called the Skald-woman; she dwelt at
Thorwardstead. She had a son hight Eyolf, and a brother who
hight Tanni, and was called the Handstrong, for his might
was unlike the sons of men; and of like kind was Eyolf, his
sister's son; full-hearted in daring they were moreover.
These had come to Tind for the smithying. But for that cause
folk came not to Gilsbank, that Hermund was ridden to the
ship and his house-carles with him.
Tind and the others were four, and
Thormod the fifth, and it was now late in the day.
The sons of Eld came to Thorgisl the
Hewer, and the folk there bestir them speedily, and fare
thence six in company. Eyolf, the son of Thorgisl, fared
with him and four others.
Now must it
be told what tidings Bardi and his folk see. He rideth the
first of them, and somewhat the hardest, so that a gate's
space was betwixt him and them; but they rode after him
somewhat leisurely, and said that he was wondrous fearful.
Now see they the faring of men who
chase them, and that flock was not much less than they
themselves had. Then were Bardi's fellows glad, and thought
it good that there would be a chance of some tale to tell of
their journey.
Then spake Bardi: "Fare we away yet a
while, for it is not to be looked for that they will spur on
the chase any the less."
Then sang Eric Wide-sight a stave:
"Now gather together the warriors renowned,
Each one of them eager-fain after the fray.
Now draweth together a folk that is fight-famed,
Apace on the heathways from out of the Southland;
But Bardi in nowise hard-counselled is bidding
The warriors fare fast and be eager in fleeing
The blast of the spear-storm that hitherward setteth,
The storm of the feeders of fight from the South."
"Now sayest
thou not sooth," said Bardi; "that spake I, that each should
fare as he might, till we be come to the fighting-stead in
the northernmost mire, which my fosterer told me we should
make the most of."
Nevertheless, Bardi could not get that
matter brought on the road, and they said that they had been
chased enow when they came to the fight-stead in the
southern mire; and Bardi sees that so it will have to be; so
now he turneth to meet his folk. He says that he was no
eagerer to ride away than they, "and this plot of yours
shall ye pay for, whereas I may not let you now, that we
shall not run this evening before ye think it high time; and
ye, or anyone else, shall first speak the word of not
abiding, or ever I do."
Now deem they right well thereover.
They left their horses out on the ness away from them, and
set Kollgris to heed them; for he was no fighting-man, and
was on the downhill road of life.
Now sang Eric a stave:
"Fast hold we the field now, let each man be moving
Forth on to the battle that bideth us here.
Let us the fell reddeners, the well-proven falcons,
The shield-tearers, sniff in the wounds of the men.
I know how to bide in my place of the battle,
Though harder and harder the sword-storm be growing
That gathereth against us from fields of the South.
Here up on the Heath let us harden the helm-rod."
That same day
withal folk went to Whitewatermeads to fetch Hermund, who
was wending home again, and the messengers met him up from
Thingness. There he leaveth behind all his train, and
biddeth every man fare with him who might get away, and
calleth all folk out, and rideth after them.
Now they come
face to face, Bardi and the Southern men, who now got off
their horses. Bardi's folk had arrayed them athwart the
ness. "Go none of you forth beyond these steps," says Bardi,
"because I misdoubt me that more men are to be looked for."
The breadth of the ness went with the
rank of the eighteen of them, and there was but one way of
falling on them. Says Bardi: "It is most like that ye will
get the trying of weapons; but better had it been to hold
the northernmost fight-stead, nor had any blame been laid
upon us if we had so done; and better had it been for the
blood-feuds. Yet shall we not be afraid, even though we are
here."
There stood they with brandished
weapons. On the one hand of Bardi stood Thorberg, and on the
other side Gefn's-Odd, and on the other hand of them the
brethren of Bardi.
Now those Southern men, they fall not
on so speedily as the others looked for, for more folk had
they to face than they had wotted of. The leaders of them
were Thorgaut, Thorbiorn, and Ketil. Spake Thorgaut: "Wiser
it were to bide more folk of ours; much deeper in counsel
have they proved, inasmuch as they came but few of them
within the country-side."
Now they fall not on; and when the
Northern men see that, they take to their own devices. Saith
Thorberg: "Is Brusi amidst the folk perchance?" He said that
he was there.
Says Thorberg: "Knowest thou perchance
this sword, which here I hold?" He said that he knew not how
that should be looked for. "Or who art thou?"
"Thorberg I hight," says he; "and this
sword Lyng-Torfi, thy kinsman, gave to me; thereof shalt
thou abide many a stroke to-day, if it be as I will. But why
fall ye not on, so boldly as ye have followed on to-day, as
it seemeth to me, now running, and now riding."
He answereth: "Maybe that is a sword I
own; but before we part to-day thou shalt have little need
to taunt us."
Then said Thorberg: "If thou art a man
full-fashioned for fight, why wilt thou tarry for more odds
against us?"
Then Bardi took up the word: "What are
the tidings of the country-side?"
Said Ketil: "Tidings are such as shall
seem good to thee, to wit, the slaying of Gisli, my
brother."
Saith Bardi: "We blame it nowise; and
I deemed not that my work had been done anywise doubtfully.
Come! Deemest thou, Ketil, that thou and thy father have
nought at all wherefor to avenge you on us. I mind me that
it was but a little since thou camest home, Ketil, bearing a
back burden, a gift in hand for thy father. Now if thou
bearest it not in mind, here is there a token thereof, this
same sword, to wit, not yet dry of the brains of him."
And he shaketh the sword at him
therewith.
This they might not abide, so now they
run on them. Thorbiorn leaps at Bardi, and smites him on the
neck, and wondrous great was the clatter of the stroke, and
it fell on that stone of the beads which had been shifted
whenas he took the knife and gave it to Nial's son; and the
stone brake asunder, and blood was drawn on either side of
the band, but the sword did not bite.
Then said Thorbiorn: "Troll! No iron
will bite on thee."
Now were they joined in battle
together, and after that great stroke he (Thorbiorn) turns
him forthwith to meet Thorod, and they fall to fight
together; Ketil goeth against Bardi, and Thorgaut against
Thorberg. There lacked not great strokes and eggings-on.
The Southlanders had the lesser folk,
and the less trusty.
Now first is to be told of the
dealings betwixt Bardi and Ketil. Ketil was the strongest of
men and of great heart. Long they had to do together, till
it came to this, that Bardi slashed into the side of him,
and Ketil fell. (A) Then leapt Bardi unto Thorgaut and gave
him his death-wound, (B) and there they both lay low before
the very weapon which they owned themselves.
Now is it to be told of Thorbiorn and
Thorod. They fall to in another place; and there lacked not
for great strokes, which neither spared to the other, most
of them being huge in sooth. But one stroke Thorod fetched
at Thorbiorn, and smote off his foot at the ankle-joint; but
none the less he fought on, and thrust forth his sword into
Thorod's belly, so that he fell, and his gut burst out.
But Thorbiorn, seeing how it had fared
with his kinsmen (namely, Ketil and Thorgaut), he heeded
nought of his life amidst these maimings.
Now turn the sons of Gudbrand on
Thorbiorn. He said: "Seek ye another occasion; erst it was
not for young men to strive with us." Therewith he leaps at
Bardi and fights with him. Then said Bardi: "What! A very
troll I deem thee, whereas thou tightest with one foot off.
Truer of thee is that which thou spakest to me."
"Nay," quoth Thorbiorn, "nought of
trollship is it for a man to bear his wounds, and not to be
so soft as to forbear warding him whiles he may. That may be
accounted for manliness rather; and so shouldst thou account
it, and betroll men not, whereas thou art called a true man.
But this shall ye have to say hereof before I bow me in the
grass, that I had the heart to make the most of weapons."
There fell he before Bardi and won a
good word. (C)
Now lacks there never onset, but it
came to this at last, that the Southern men gave way.
But it is told that there was a man
hight Thorliot, a great champion, who had his abode at
Walls; but some say that he was of Sleybrook: he fought with
Eric Wide-sight; and before they fought, Eric sang this
stave:
"O warrior that reddenest the war-brand thin-whetted,
'Tis the mind of us twain to make shields meet together
In the wrath of the war-fray. O bider of Wall-stead,
Now bear we no ruth into onset of battle.
O hider of hoards of the fire that abideth
In the fetter of earth, I have heard of thine heart,
High-holden, bepraised amongst men for its stoutness;
And now is the time that we try it together."
They had to
do a long while, and that say men that scarce might braver
men be seen; for either of them was of the biggest and
strongest of men, deft in weapons, and dauntless of heart.
Now Eric hews at Thorliot with his sword, and it brake
asunder, but he catches a hold of the point and hews at him,
and gives him a great wound, and he fell. (D)
Now is there
somewhat of a lull; but therewith were seen six men
a-riding: there were Thorgisl the Hewer, and Eyolf his son,
and the sons of Eid. They see the evil plight of their folk,
and that their lot was sinking much, and they were ill
content therewith.
Now the sons of Gudbrand were ware
that there was Eyolf, and they crave leave of Bardi to take
his life and avenge them. For it had befallen, that whenas
they were east-away he had thrust them from a certain
gallery down into a muck-pit, and therein they had fared
shamefully; so they would now avenge them; and they had made
this journey with Bardi from the beginning that they might
get the man.
Said Bardi: "Ye are doughty men, and
of much worth, and much teen it were if ye were cast away.
Still, I will see to it that your will have its way; but I
will bid you go not from out the ranks." But they might not
withhold themselves, and they run off to meet him eagerly,
and they fall to fight. Eyolf was the greatest of champions,
and a man of showy ways, like his father before him;
full-fashioned of might, well proven in onslaught; and the
battle betwixt them was long and hard; and suchwise it
ended, that either was so wilful and eager, and so mighty of
heart and hand, that they all lay dead at their parting. (E)
Fast fought the sons of Eid withal,
and go forward well and warrior-like; against them fought
Stein and Steingrim, and now they all fight and do a good
stroke of work; and there fall the sons of Eid, (F) and
Bardi was standing hard by, when they lost their lives.
Thorgisl the Hewer spared nought; he
deemed great scathe wrought him by the death of his son. He
was the mightiest man of his hands, and defter of weapons
than other men. He heweth on either hand and deemeth life no
better than death.
These are most named amongst the
foremost herein, to wit, Thorgisl and Eric and Thorod.
Thorgisl spared him nought, and there
was no man of the country who seemed to all a wayfellow of
more avail than he. Thorgisl (son of Hermund, brother of
Thorod) betook him to meet him; and they dealt long
together, nor was either of them lacking in hardihood. Now
Thorgisl (Hermundson) smites a stroke on him down his nose
from the brow, and said:
"Now hast thou gotten a good mark
befitting thee; and even such should more of you have."
Then spake Thorgisl (the Hewer):
"Nought good is the mark; yet most like it is, that I shall
have the heart to bear it manfully; little have ye yet to
brag over." And he smote at him so that he fell and is now
unfightworthy. (1) (G)
Now was there a lull for a while, and
men bind their wounds.
Now is seen the riding of four men,
and there was Tind and Tanni, Eyolf and Thormod; and when
they came up they egg on much; and they themselves were of
championship exceeding great; and battle was joined the
third time.
Tanni fell on against Bardi, and there
befell fight of wondrous daring.
Tanni hewed at him, and it fell out as
before, that Bardi is hard to deal with, and the business
betwixt them ended herewith, that Tanni fell before Bardi.
(H)
Eyolf went against Odd, and they
fight, each of them the best of stout men. Now Eyolf smiteth
at Odd, and it came on to his cheek and on to his mouth, and
a great wound was that.
Then spake Eyolf: "Maybe the widow
will think the kissing of thee worsened."
Odd answereth: "Long hath it been not
over good, and now must it be much spoilt forsooth; yet it
may be that thou wilt not tell thereof to thy sweetheart."
And he smote at him, so that he gat a
great wound. (I)
Here it befell as of the rest, that
Bardi was standing hard by, and did him scathe.
Withal Thormod Thorgautson was a bold
man, and went well forward. Eyolf of Burg fared against him,
and got a sore hurt.
Now though these above said be the
most named amongst the Northlanders, yet all of them fared
forth well and in manly wise, whereas they had a chosen
company.
So when these were fallen there was a
lull in the battle. And now Thorberg spake that they should
seek to get away; but eight men from the South were fallen,
and three from the North. (2) Now Bardi asks Thorod if he
thought he would have the might to fare with them, and he
gave out there was no hope thereof, and bids them ride off.
Now Bardi beheld his hurt, and
therewithal they saw the band that now fared up from the
South like a wood to look upon. So Bardi asks if they be
minded to bide, but they said they would ride off; and so
they did, and were now sixteen in company, and the more part
of them wounded.
Now it is to
be told of Illugi that he cometh upon the field of deed, and
seeth there things unlooked for, and great withal. Then sang
Tind a song when Illugi asked how many they had been:
"The stem of the battle-craft here was upbearing
His spear-shaft with eight and with ten of the ash-trees
That bear about ever the moon of the ocean;
With us five less than thirty men were they a-fighting.
But nine of the flingers of hail of the bow,
Yea, nine of our folk unto field there have fallen,
And surely meseemeth that dead they are lying,
Those staves of the flame by the lathe that is fashioned.
"Of the North the two cravers of heirship from Eid
In the field are they fallen as seen is full clearly,
And Gudbrand's two sons they fell there moreover,
Where the din of the spear-play was mighty mid men.
But never henceforward for boot are we biding;
Unless as time weareth the vengeance befall.
Now shall true folk be holding a mind of these
matters,
As of sword-motes the greatest ere fought amongst
men."
[Here a page
in the old record is so obscure, as to leave readable only
bits here and there, from which one gleans so much as that
someone of Illugi's company saw where Thorod lay wounded,
yet still alive, and forthwith went up to him and smote off
his head. When Illugi was aware of this, he said he had had
but an evil errand thither in slaying the man. Then Illugi
with a band of one hundred men gives chase to Bardi and his
folk. But he is overtaken by a sudden darkness, and bids his
folk return, and brings to the South the bodies of the
fallen. Many were wounded of the men of the South: those
Gislungs Arni Frodi, Thormod, and Thorarin very sorely. In
hope of entrapping the Northerners if they should return to
fetch their dead, Illugi left a band of men to watch the
bodies, who rigged up a tent for themselves, and kept guard
there for a while. Bardi went with his company first to
Nial, and thence to his foster-father, Thorarin of Lechmote,
and tells him privily the news of his journey, giving out
that he was minded now to go fetch the bodies of the fallen.
But Thorarin counselled him to wait a while, for he guessed
that the Southerners would tire of the watch. And even as he
guessed so the matter befell, that they wearied of the watch
upon the bleak mountain, and returned to their homes.
Next the story has told how Bardi
sought aid from friends and neighhours in household needs,
that he might maintain a bodyguard at Asbiorn's-ness against
the Southerners gathering men to beset him in his house. In
this matter his wife Gudrun sought to prevail with her
father to come bounteously to Bardi's aid, but he hung back,
and the unbroken tale begins again when Bardi has gone
himself to his father-in-law to urge the matter.] "Biorn,"
says he, "how much wilt thou add to my store of slaughtered
meat, if I eke my household in some way?"
Spake Thorbiorn: "Nought will I add
thereto, because nought is due from me." So other folk
busied themselves about the matter with Biorn, but could get
nothing good out of him.
Bardi said: "Then neither will have
aught good of the matter, and they will have to pay on whom
the worser lot falleth; but I shall do that whereby thou
shalt be most dishonoured." And therewithal Bardi nameth
witnesses, and gives forth that he putteth from him Gudrun,
Biorn's daughter "and for this cause," says Bardi, "that
thou art by a great deal too much of a miser for any doughty
man to put up with having thee for a father-in-law; nor
shalt thou ever have back from me either dower or jointure."
Now they hear
a great din, in that many men ride to the river. Here was
come Thorgisl Arason, having journeyed from the North-
country from his bridal; in his company was Snorri the
Priest, and eighty men together they rode.
Then said Bardi: "Let us drop our
visors, (1) and ride we into their band, but never more than
one at a time, and then they will find out nothing, seeing
that it is dark."
So Bardi rideth up to Snorri the
Priest, having a mask over his face, and hath talk with him
while they cross the ford, and tells him the tidings. And as
they ride out of the river Snorri the Priest took up the
word, and said:
"Here let us bait, Thorgisl, and tarry
and talk together, before we betake ourselves to quarters
for the night." Bardi and his were riding beside the
company, and folk heeded it not. Thorgisl was minded in the
evening for Broadlairstead.
Now when they had sat down, spake
Snorri: "I am told, Thorgisl," says he, "that no man can set
forth as well as thou the speech of truce and other in law
matters." (2)
"That is a tale that goeth not for
much," says Thorgisl.
"Nay," says Snorri, "there must be
much therein, since all men speak in one way thereof."
Thorgisl answers: "Truly there is
nothing in it that I deliver the speech of truce better than
other men, though it may be good in law notwithstanding."
Says Snorri: "I would that thou
wouldst let me hear it."
He answers: "What need is there
thereof? Are any men here at enmity together?"
He said he knew nought thereof, "but
this can never be a misdoing; so do as I will."
So Thorgisl said it should be so, and
therewithal he fell to speaking:
"This is the beginning of our speech
of truce, that God may be at peace with us all; so also
shall we be men at peace between ourselves and of good
accord, at ale and at eating, at meets and at man-motes, at
church-goings and in king's house; and wherever the meetings
of men befall, we shall be so at one as if enmity had never
been between us. Knife we shall share and shorn meat, yea,
and all other things between us, even as friends and not
foes. Should henceforth any trespass happen amongst us, let
boot be done, but no blade be reddened. But he of us who
tramples on truce settled, or fights after full troth given,
he shall be so far wolf-driven and chased, as men furthest
follow up wolves, Christian men churches seek, heathen men
their temples tend, fires flare up, earth grows green, son
names a mother's name, ships sail, shields glitter, sun
shines, snow wanes, Fin skates, fir groweth, a falcon flieth
the springlong day with wind abaft under both his wings
standing, as heaven dwindles, the world is peopled, wind
waxeth, water sheds to sea, and carles sow corn.
"He shall shun churches and Christian
men, God's houses and men's, and every home but hell.
"Each one of us taketh troth from the
other for himself and his heirs born and unborn, begotten
and not begotten, named and not named, and each one giveth
in turn troth, life troth, dear troth, yea, main troth, such
as ever shall hold good while mold and men be alive.
"Now are we at one, and at peace
wheresoever we meet on land or on water, on ship or on
snowshoe, on high seas or horseback:
"Oars to share,
Or bailing-butt,
Thoft or thole plank
If that be needful."
So
at one with one another, as a son with his father, or father
with son, in all dealings together. Let us now give hands to
the speech of truce, and hold we well to our truce even as
Christ wills it, witness thereto all those men who now have
hearkened the speech of truce. Let him have the grace of God
who holdeth the truce, but him have God's grame who riveth
rightful truce. Hail us that we are appeased, but God be at
peace with all."
And when
Thorgisl had done giving out the words of truce, Snorri
spoke: "Have thanks, friend; right well hast thou spoken,
and it is clear enough that he who trespasseth there against
is truly a truce-breaker, most especially if he be here
present." And now Snorri tells the tidings which had
befallen, and also this, that Bardi and his men had come
into the band of Thorgisl and those with him.
In that band there were many friends
and close kindred of the men of the South; moreover,
Thorgisl had aforetime had for wife Grima, the daughter of
Halkel, and sister of Illugi the Black.
Then said Thorgisl: "For this once we
might well have done without thee, Snorri."
He answers: "Say not so, good friend;
troubles between men have now grown full great, though here
they be stayed."
So now Thorgisl would not go against
the truce which he himself had bespoken, and so folk parted
asunder.
Snorri rode away with a company of
twenty men to Lechmote, and Bardi and his folk were with
him, and Thorarin received them well, and cheery of mood
they were and bespoke their counsels.
[Here a lacuna of one leaf in the old
MS. interrupts the story, which begins again when,
apparently at the Althing, the affairs of Bardi were settled
at law.]
Then stands
up an old man, Eid Skeggison to wit, and said: "We like it
ill that men should bandy words about here, whether it be
done by our men or others; to nought good will that come,
while often evil proceedeth therefrom. It behoveth men here
to speak what may tend to peace. I am minded to think that
not another man among us has more to miss, nor that on any,
much greater grief hath been brought than on me; yet a wise
counsel do I deem it to come to peace, and therefore I shall
have no ruth on anyone bandying words about here. Moreover,
it is most likely now, as ever, that it will only come to
evil if folk will be casting words of shame at each other."
He got good cheer for his speech. And
now men search about for such as be likeliest for the
peacemaking. Snorri is most chiefly spoken of as seeking to
bring about the peace. He was then far sunk in age. Another
such was Thorgisl, the friend of Snorri, for their wives
were sisters. Now both sides did it to wit that matters
should be put to award, and the pairing of man to man;
though erst folk had been sore of their kinsmen.
Now we know no more to tell thereof
than that the fallen were paired man to man, and for the
award Snorri was chosen on behalf of Bardi, together with
Gudmund, the son of Eyolf, while Thorgisl, the son of Ari,
and I11ugi, were appointed on behalf of the Southerners. (1)
So they fell to talking over the matter between them, as to
what would most likely lead to peace. And it seemed good to
them to pair men together in this wise:
The sons of Eid and the sons of
Gudbrand were evened, as was also Thorod, the son of
Hermund, and Thorbiorn. But now as to Hall Gudmundson, the
Burgfirthers thought the mangild for him was pushed too far,
so they drew off, and broke the peace; yet they knew that
Bardi had set his heart on that matter. But of the close
thereof this is to be told, that the sons of Thorgaut, Ketil
and Gisli, were paired against Hall Gudmundson. In all there
were nine lives lost of the Southerners, and now four from
the North have been set off against five Gislungs; for
nought else would like the kinsmen of Bardi because of the
disparity of kin there was.
Then matters were talked over with
both sides as to what next was most like to do. There were
now four Southernmen unatoned, Thorgisl to wit, and Eyolf
his son, Tanni the Handstrong, and Eyolf, his sister's son.
Now Bardi declared that he was no man
of wealth any more than his brothers or their kindred, "nor
do we mean to claim money in atonement on our side."
Answered Snorri: "Yet it behoveth not,
that neither fine nor outlawry come about." Bardi said he
would not gainsay that people should go abroad, so that they
were free to come back again, nor that then all the more of
them should fare. "Yet one there is who cannot fare; for him
let fee be yolden, though it may hap that ye deem ye have
some guilt to square with him. My fellow Gris will not be
found to be bitten by guilt." Hesthofdi, who now dwells at
the place called Stead in Skagafirth, who was a kinsman of
his, took him in.
So matters came about, that on this
they made peace, as they were most willing to agree to men
faring abroad. Now this was deemed to be about the only boot
to be got, since Bardi might not bite at-fines; they hoped,
too, that thereby unpeace would somewhat abate, and on the
other hand they deemed no less honour done to themselves by
their having to be abroad. By wise men it was deemed most
like to allay their rage, so great as it was, if for a while
they should not be living within one and the same land.
Fourteen of the men who had had share
in the Heath-slaughters were to fare abroad, and be abroad
for three winters, and be free to come back in the third
summer, but no money should be found for their faring.
Thus were men appeased on these
matters without taking them into court. And so it was
accounted that Bardi and those who came forth for his avail
had had the fuller share, for as hopeless as it had seemed
for a while.
Now Bardi
sends men into the country-side. He and his had got rid of
their land and stock in case this should be the end of the
matter; the which they could not surely tell beforehand. The
messenger was hight Thorod, and was by-named Kegward, not
beloved of folk; he was to have three winters; he was akin
to the sons of Gudround, wealthy in chattels withal. And now
the purchase of their lands as aforesaid was all but
settled.
Now there cometh withal a ship from
the high seas into the mouth of Blanda, which was the keel
of Haldor, Bardi's foster-brother.
Therewithal folk came back from the
Thing, and when Haldor hears that Bardi must needs go
abroad, he has the freight of the craft unshipped, and
brings himself, ship and all, up into the Hope over against
Bardi's house, and a joyful meeting was theirs.
"Kinsman," says Haldor, "ever hast
thou handled matters well as concerning me; thou hast often
been bounteous to me, nor didst thou wax wrath on me when I
did not go with thee on that journey of thine, so therefore
I will now promise thee some avail in return, as now thou
shalt hear: this ship will I give thee with yard and gear."
Bardi thanked him, saying he deemed he
had done the deed of a great man. So now he dights this
craft, and has with him five- and-twenty men. Somewhat late
they were bound for sea; then put off to the main, and are
eleven days out at sea; but in such wise their faring befell
that they wreck their ship against Sigluness in the north,
and goods were lost, but the men saved.
Gudmund the Elder had ridden out to
Galmastrand, and heareth the tidings and hasteneth homeward.
And in the evening spake Eyolf, his son: "Maybe it is Bardi
yonder on the other side, that we see from here." Many said
it was not unlike.
"Now how wouldst thou go about it?"
says Eyolf, even he, "if it should hap that he had been
driven back here?" (1)
He answers: "What seemeth good to
thee?"
He answers: "To bid them all home here
to guesting. Meet were that."
Gudmund answers: "Large of mind thou,
nor wot I if that be altogether so ill counselled."
Answers Eyolf, even he: "Speak thou,
hailest of men! Now I can tell thee that Bardi, he and his,
have been driven back, and broken to splinters against
Sigluness, and have lost the best part of their goods. From
this thou wilt have honour."
So he closed his mouth; but Gudmund
thought he liked the matter none the better for that, yet
lets him have his will.
So Eyolf
dights him for the journey, and goes with five-and- twenty
horses to meet them, and happens on them on Galmastrand. He
greets them well, and bids them go home with him, by the
will of his father.
They did so, and there they had to
themselves the second bench throughout the winter; and
Gudmund was cheery to them, and did to them after the
fashion of a great man and well. And that was widely
rumoured.
Einar, the son of Jarnskeggi, often
bids them go to his house and stay with him. And thus now
they are right happy.
Now we have to bring to mind, that it
was Thorarin's rede that with Bardi there were men who were
of great worth and had much to fall back upon. And they now
sent to the west for their moneys, being still bent on
faring abroad in the summer.
Some time
that winter it befell that there was one who asked Eric the
Skald as to what had befallen, and how many lives had been
lost. He sang:
"Famed groves of the race-course whereon the sword runneth,
All up on the Heath 'twas eleven lay dead
In the place where the lime-board, the red board of battle,
Went shivering to pieces midst din of the shields.
And thereof was the cause of the battle, that erewhile
It was Gisli fell in with his fate and his ending
In the midst of the fray of the fire of the fight:
'Gainst the wielder of wound-shaft we thrust forth the
onslaught."
And still
here is a witness that at this time the asking had been put
forth as to how many had fallen of each:
"Three stems of the stall whereon lieth the serpent,
It was even so many that fell of our men,
And the full tale of them that came out of the Northland;
The fish of the fight-board in wounds have we reddened.
But nine is the number of those that have fallen
Of the tholes of the fire of the witch-song of Fiolnir,
From out of the Southland, that fell on the Heath,
Befell to the men there grim gale of the battle."
Then people
fell a-talking, saying that greatly had the weight of the
slaughter fallen into the band of the Southmen. Then sang he
a song:
It was Stir the swift-speeding, and Snorri moreover,
Who summoned the sword-mote, and let it be holden,
Whereas they, the Gods of the spear of the battle,
Made a fate over-heavy for the kindred of Gisli.
But yet little less was the shard of the kindred
That afterwards Bardi carved out with his weapon
From the men of the Southland, the feeders of fight;
For the fight-folk of Gisli there fell beyond measure."
Now Bardi's
fellows took their money and made them ready for faring
abroad with a goodly deal of wealth.
Bardi and his brethren sent a word to
say that they will have their lands to sell them, for they
deem that they are in need of chattels. But he (Thorolf
Kegward) (1) would not give up the land, and claims that the
bargain should stand even as it was erst purposed. So that
now they must either forego their money or slay him.
Now Eyolf (Gudmundson) says he will
hand over to them as much money as the land is worth, and
that he will himself see to further dealings with Eyolf of
Burg, (2) and declareth that that summer he shall have him
either killed or driven out of the lands, and made himself
the owner thereof.
Now Bardi buys a ship which stood up
in Housewick; and then he went abroad, and Eyolf saw them
off with all honour, and now, this time, they fared well,
and Bardi cometh up from the main north in Thrandheim-bay
into the Cheaping, and has his ship drawn up and well done
to withal.
At that time King Olaf the Holy ruled
over Norway, and was now at the cheaping-stead. Bardi and
his fellows went before the king, and they greeted the king
well, even as beseemed, "and this is the way with us, lord,"
says Bardi, "that we would fain be of thy winter-guests."
The king answers in this way: "We have
had news of thee, Bardi," says he, "that thou art a man of
great kin, a mighty man of thine hands; moreover, that ye
are doughty men, that ye have fallen in with certain great
deeds, and have wreaked your wrongs, yet waited long before
so doing. Howbeit ye have still some ancient ways about you,
and such manner of faith as goeth utterly against my mind.
Now for the reason that I have clean parted from such
things, our will is not to take you in; yet shall I be thy
friend, Bardi," says he, "for methinks that some great
things may be in store for thee. But it may often befall to
those who fall in with suchlike matters, should they grow to
be over-weighty to deal with, then if there be certain
ancient lore blended therewith, therein are men given to
trow overmuch."
Then spake Bardi: "No man there is,"
says he, "whom I would rather have for a friend than thee,
and thanks we owe thee for thy words."
Now that winter long Bardi had his
abode in the town, and all men held him of good account. But
the next spring he dights his ship for Denmark, and there he
was for another winter, and was well beholden withal, though
tidings be not told thereof.
Thereafter he dights his ship for
Iceland, and .they came out upon the north of the land, and
were in great straits for money.
By this time Gudmund was dead, and
Eyolf came to see them and bid them come to his house, and
anon each went to his own, all being now guiltless.
Eyolf gave up to Bardi and his
brethren their lands inherited from their father, showing
forth again his large-heartedness as before, nor was any
other man such avail to them as he was.
Now Bardi betook himself to Gudbrand
his brother-in-law, a wealthy man and of high kin withal,
but said to be somewhat close-fisted.
But the brethren of Bardi went to
Burg, the southernmost, to Eyolf their brother-in-law, and
by that time their foster-mother was dead.
Now Eyolf redeemed all the land for
the hand of those brothers, and buys Bardi out of his share,
with chattels. And so the brothers now set up house on their
father's lands, and they died there in old age -- men of
avail, though not abreast with the greatness of their
family; they were married both, and men are come from them.
Bardi rideth
to the Thing after he had been one winter here in the land.
Then he wooed for himself a wife, hight Aud, daughter of
Snorri the Priest, and betrothed to him she was, and the
bridals were settled to be at Saelings-dale in the harvest
tide, at the home of Snorri her father. It is not set forth
what jointure there should go with her from home, though
like enough it be that it would be a seemly portion. She was
a right stirring woman and much beloved by Snorri. Her
mother was Thurid, the daughter of Illugi the Red.
Bardi rides after the Thing to
Waterdale to his alliances, being now well content with his
journey and having good honour of men. And things turned out
even as wise men had foreseen, that the peace amongst men
was well holden, even as it had been framed erst, nor
telleth the tale that aught of dealings they had further
together.
Now Snorri dights the bridals in the
harvest tide as had been settled, and a great multitude of
folk gathered there; bravely the banquet turned out as might
be looked for, and there Bardi and his wife tarry the winter
long. But in the spring they get them away with all their
belongings, and as good friends they parted, Snorri and
Bardi.
Now Bardi goeth north to Waterdale,
where he tarrieth with Gudbrand his brother-in-law. And in
the following spring he dighteth a journey of his, and
buyeth a ship and goeth abroad, and his wife with him. The
tale telleth that the journey sped well with him, and he
hove in from the main up against Halogaland, where the next
winter long he dwelt in Thiotta with Svein, son of Harek,
being well accounted of, for men deemed they saw in him the
tokens of a great man; so Svein held him dear, both him and
his wife withal.
So it befell
one morning, as they were both together in their sleeping
loft, away from other folk, that Bardi would sleep on, but
she would be rousing him, and so she took a small pillow and
cast it into his face as if for sport. He threw it back
again from him; and so this went on sundry times. And at
last he cast it at her and let his hand go with it. She was
wroth thereat, and having gotten a stone she throweth it at
him in turn.
So that day, when drinking was at an
end, Bardi riseth to his feet, and nameth witnesses for
himself, and declareth that he is parted from Aud, saying
that he will take masterful ways no more from her than from
anyone else. And so fast was he set in this mind herein,
that to bring words to bear was of no avail.
So their goods were divided between
them, and Bardi went his ways next spring, and made no stay
in his journey till he cometh into Garthrealm, where he
taketh warrior's wages, and becometh one of the Vaerings,
and all the Northmen held him of great account, and had him
for a bosom-friend amongst themselves.
Always, when that king's realm was to
be warded, he is on the ways of war, gaining good renown
from his valiance, so that he has about him always a great
company of men. There Bardi spent three winters, being much
honoured by the king and all the Vaerings. But once it
befell, as they were out on their war- galleys with an host
and warded the king's realm, that there fell an host upon
them; there make they a great battle, and many of the king's
men fell, as they had to struggle against an overwhelming
force, though ere they fell they wrought many a big deed;
and therewithal fell Bardi amidst good renown, having used
his weapons after the fashion of a valiant man unto death.
Aud was married again to a mighty man,
the son of Thorir Hound, who was hight Sigurd. And thence
are sprung the men of Birchisle, the most renowned among
men.
And there endeth this story.