Now at this time there dwelt at Gilsbank, up in White-water-side, Illugi
the Black, son of Hallkel, the son of Hrosskel. The mother of Illugi was
Thurid Dandle, daughter of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue.
Illugi was the next greatest chief in Burg-firth after Thorstein
Egilson. He was a man of broad lands and hardy of mood, and wont to do
well to his friends; he had to wife Ingibiorg, the daughter of Asbiorn
Hordson, from Ornolfsdale; the mother of Ingibiorg was Thorgerd, the
daughter of Midfirth-Skeggi. The children of Illugi and Ingibiorg were
many, but few of them have to do with this story. Hermund was one of
their sons, and Gunnlaug another; both were hopeful men, and at this
time of ripe growth.
It is told of Gunnlaug that he was quick of growth in his early youth,
big, and strong; his hair was light red, and very goodly of fashion; he
was dark-eyed, somewhat ugly-nosed, yet of lovesome countenance; thin
of flank he was, and broad of shoulder, and the best-wrought of men; his
whole mind was very masterful; eager was he from his youth up, and in
all wise unsparing and hardy; he was a great skald, but somewhat bitter
in his rhyming, and therefore was he called Gunnlaug Worm-tongue.
Hermund was the best beloved of the two brothers, and had the mien of a
great man.
When Gunnlaug was fifteen winters old he prayed his father for goods to
fare abroad withal, and said he had will to travel and see the manners
of other folk. Master Illugi was slow to take the matter up, and said he
was unlike to be deemed good in the out-lands “when I can scarcely shape
thee to my own liking at home.”
On a morning but a very little afterwards it happened that Illugi came
out early, and saw that his storehouse was opened, and that some
sacks of wares, six of them, had been brought out into the road, and
therewithal too some pack-gear. Now, as he wondered at this, there came
up a man leading four horses, and who should it be but his son Gunnlaug.
Then said he:--
“I it was who brought out the sacks.”
Illugi asked him why he had done so. He said that they should make his
faring goods.
Illugi said: “In nowise shalt thou thwart my will, nor fare anywhere
sooner than I like!” and in again he swung the ware-sacks therewith.
Then Gunnlaug rode thence and came in the evening down to Burg, and
goodman Thorstein asked him to bide there, and Gunnlaug was fain of
that proffer. He told Thorstein how things had gone betwixt him and his
father, and Thorstein offered to let him bide there as long as he liked,
and for some seasons Gunnlaug abode there, and learned law-craft of
Thorstein, and all men accounted well of him.
Now Gunnlaug and Helga would be always at the chess-playing together,
and very soon each found favour with the other, as came to be proven
well enough afterwards: they were very nigh of an age.
Helga was so fair, that men of lore say that she was the fairest woman
of Iceland, then or since; her hair was so plenteous and long that it
could cover her all over, and it was as fair as a band of gold; nor was
there any so good to choose as Helga the Fair in all Burgfirth, and far
and wide elsewhere.
Now one day, as men sat in the hall at Burg, Gunnlaug spake to
Thorstein: “One thing in law there is which thou hast not taught me, and
that is how to woo me a wife.”
Thorstein said, “That is but a small matter,” and therewith taught him
how to go about it.
Then said Gunnlaug, “Now shalt thou try if I have understood all: I
shall take thee by the hand and make as if I were wooing thy daughter
Helga.”
“I see no need of that,” says Thorstein. Gunnlaug, however, groped
then and there after his hand, and seizing it said, “Nay, grant me this
though.”
“Do as thou wilt, then,” said Thorstein; “but be it known to all who
are hereby that this shall be as if it had been unspoken, nor shall any
guile follow herein.”
Then Gunnlaug named for himself witnesses, and betrothed Helga to him,
and asked thereafter if it would stand good thus. Thorstein said that it
was well; and those who were present were mightily pleased at all this.