gave the Kings Cloak to Helga.
Tells the tale of Raven, that he sat at his weddings-feast at Burg, and
it was the talk of most men that the bride was but drooping; for true is
the saw that saith, “Long we remember what youth gained us,” and even so
it was with her now.
But this new thing befell at the feast, that Hungerd, the daughter
of Thorod and Jofrid, was wooed by a man named Sverting, the son of
Hafr-Biorn, the son of Mold-Gnup, and the wedding was to come off that
winter after Yule, at Skaney, where dwelt Thorkel, a kinsman of Hungerd,
and son of Torn Valbrandsson; and the mother of Torn was Thorodda, the
sister of Odd of the Tongue.
Now Raven went home to Mossfell with Helga his wife. When they had been
there a little while, one morning early before they rose up, Helga was
awake, but Raven slept, and fared ill in his sleep. And when he woke
Helga asked him what he had dreamt. Then Raven sang:--
“In thine arms, so dreamed I,
Hewn was I, gold island!
Bride, in blood I bled there,
Bed of thine was reddened.
Never more then mightst thou,
Mead-bowl’spourer speedy,
Bind my gashes bloody--
Lind-leek-bough thou likst it.”
Helga spake: “Never shall I weep therefor,” quoth she; “ye have evilly
beguiled me, and Gunnlaug has surely come out.” And therewith she wept
much.
But, a little after, Gunnlaug’s coming was bruited about, and Helga
became so hard with Raven, that he could not keep her at home at
Mossfell; so that back they had to go to Burg, and Raven got small share
of her company.
Now men get ready for the winter-wedding. Thorkel of Skaney bade Illugi
the Black and his sons. But when master Illugi got ready, Gunnlaug sat
in the hall, and stirred not to go. Illugi went up to him and said, “Why
dost thou not get ready, kinsman?”
Gunnlaug answered, “I have no mind to go.”
Says Illugi, “Nay, but certes thou shalt go, kinsman,” says he; “and
cast thou not grief over thee by yearning for one woman. Make as if thou
knewest nought of it, for women thou wilt never lack.”
Now Gunnlaug did as his father bade him; so they came to the wedding,
and Illugi and his sons were set down in the high seat; but Thorstein
Egilson, and Raven his son-in-law, and the bridegroom’s following, were
set in the other high seat, over against Illugi.
The women sat on the dais, and Helga the Fair sat next to the bride.
Oft she turned her eyes on Gunnlaug, thereby proving the saw, “Eyes will
bewray if maid love man.”
Gunnlaug was well arrayed, and had on him that goodly raiment that King
Sigtrygg had given him; and now he was thought far above all other men,
because of many things, both strength, and goodliness, and growth.
There was little mirth among folk at this wedding. But on the day when
all men were making ready to go away the women stood up and got ready
to go home. Then went Gunnlaug to talk to Helga, and long they talked
together: but Gunnlaug sang:--
“Light-heart lived the Worm-tongue
All day long no longer
In mountain-home, since Helga
Had name of wife of Raven;
Nought foresaw thy father,
Hardener white of fight-thaw,
What my words should come to.
--The maid to gold was wedded.”
And again he sang:--
“Worst reward I owe them,
Father thine, O wine-may,
And mother, that they made thee
So fair beneath thy maid-gear;
For thou, sweet field of sea-flame,
All joy hast slain within me.--
Lo, here, take it, loveliest
E’er made of lord and lady!”
And therewith Gunnlaug gave Helga the cloak, Ethelred’s-gift, which was
the fairest of things, and she thanked him well for the gift.
Then Gunnlaug went out, and by that time riding-horses had been brought
home and saddled, and among them were many very good ones; and they
were all tied up in the road. Gunnlaug leaps on to a horse, and rides
a hand-gallop along the homefield up to a place where Raven happened
to stand just before him; and Raven had to draw out of his way. Then
Gunnlaug said,--
“No need to slink aback, Raven, for I threaten thee nought as at this
time; but thou knowest forsooth, what thou hast earned.”.
Raven answered and sang,--
“God of wound-flamed glitter,
Glorier of fight-goddess,
Must we fall a-fighting
For fairest kirtle-bearer?
Death-staffs many such-like
Fair as she is are there
In south-lands o’er the sea floods.
Sooth saith he who knoweth.”
“Maybe there are many such, but they do not seem so to me,” said
Gunnlaug.
Therewith Illugi and Thorstein ran up to them, and would not have them
fight.
Then Gunnlaug sang,--
“The fair-hued golden goddess
For gold to Raven sold they,
(Raven my match as men say)
While the mighty isle-king,
Ethelred, in England
From eastward way delayed me,
Wherefore to gold-waster
Waneth tongue’s speech-hunger.”
Hereafter both rode home, and all was quiet and tidingless that winter
through; but Raven had nought of Helga’s fellowship after her meeting
with Gunnlaug.