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.