DUELLING.
Two forms of duelling—The challenge—The places of combat—Rules of
duelling—Plan of duelling-ground—Length of sword used—Offer of
sacrifice before a duel—A peculiar duel—Women a constant cause of
duels—Famous duels—The abolition of duelling.
The custom of duelling, which was frequently resorted to as a form of
ordeal, prevailed very extensively.
There were two kinds of duels, the _einvigi_ and the _holmganga_. When
used as a form of ordeal, or means of proof, if the challenger was
victorious, then the object demanded was his, for his victory was
thought to be the judgment of the gods.
“It was the law of _holmganga_ in those times, that if he who challenged
another man in order to get something gained the victory, he should have
the prize for which he had challenged; but if he was defeated, he should
release himself with as much property as had been agreed upon; but if he
fell in the _holmganga_ he should forfeit all his property, and he who
killed him was to take all the inheritance” (Egil’s Saga, c. 67).
In the _einvigi_[568] there were no settled rules, and each party could
use such weapons as he wished, and proceed in such manner as he thought
most advantageous to himself. It was the simpler mode of duelling. One
of its peculiarities was that the place for the fight was marked out.
The combatants were allowed to use other weapons besides swords, and
themselves carried the shield, while in the _holmganga_ it was carried
for them.
The _holmganga_, which took place after a formal challenge at which the
time and place were fixed, was the form of duelling that chiefly
prevailed. Its rules were most strict and binding, and were regulated by
a code of law called the “_holmganga laws_.”
It derived its name from the fact that the combatants originally fought
upon a small islet (_holm_), partly in order that they might not be
disturbed and parted against their will, and partly that the fighting
place might have a natural border, over which they could not retire.
In later times, instead of an island, places were marked out for duels;
and though they were sometimes marked by stones in a ring, like a
_dom-ring_, they were nevertheless called “_holm_,” because the laws of
_holmganga_ prevented any one from passing the boundary.
The laws of duelling seem to have been recited before the combat. Björn
Hitdœlakappi said:—
“‘I left my country because I wanted to seek fame; there are now two
choices before me: the one to bravely get victory, though that is
unlikely, in fighting against this man; the other is to fall with valour
like a man, and that is better than to live in shame and not dare to win
honour for the king. I will fight against Kaldimar.’ The king thanked
him, and the laws of the _holmganga_ were read. The champion had an
excellent sword called _Mœring_. They fought hard and eagerly; at last
the champion fell, but Björn received a severe wound; on this account he
got great fame and honour from the king” (Björn Hitdœlakappi’s Saga).
The combatants had sometimes to fight on a cloak, and were allowed to
use three shields, in case of these being cut asunder, one after the
other. They usually did not themselves carry the shield, each combatant
having a friend to hold it, who was called _skjaldsvein_ (shield man).
Swords of a certain length only were allowed, and it seems that they
were used for striking, not thrusting.
“A cloak was spread under their feet. Bersi said, ‘Thou, Kormak, didst
challenge me to holmganga, but instead of it I offer thee _einvigi_
(single-fight). Thou art young and little experienced, and at
_holmganga_ there are difficult rules, but none whatever at _einvigi_.’
Kormak answered, ‘I shall not fight better in _einvigi_, and I will risk
this, and in all be on equal footing with thee.’ ‘Thou shalt now have
thy way,’ said Bersi.
“This was the holmganga law: that the cloak should be 10 feet from one
end to the other, with loops in the corners, and in these should be put
down pegs, having a head at the upper end; these were called _tjösnur_.
The one who made the preparations must go toward the pegs, hold his
ear-lobes, and stand with his feet apart, seeing the sky between them,
using the formulary which was afterwards used at the sacrifice called
_Tjösnublót_ (peg sacrifice). Three squares, each one foot wide, must be
marked around the cloak. Outside the squares must be placed four poles,
called _höslur_ (hazel poles): it was called a _hazelled field_ when it
was prepared thus.
“Each man must have three shields, and when these were made useless he
must stand upon the cloak, even if he had walked out of it before, and
thereafter defend himself with his weapons.
[Illustration:
Fig. 780.—Plan of Holmganga Ground.
]
“He who had been challenged was to strike first. If one was wounded so
that blood came upon the cloak he was not obliged to fight any longer.
If either stepped with one of his feet outside the hazel poles, it was
held he had retreated; and if he stepped outside with both, he was held
to have fled. One man was to hold the shield before each of the
combatants. The one who had received most wounds was to pay as
_hólmlausn_ (_i.e._, indemnity for being released from the fight) three
marks of silver.
“Thorgils held the shield of his brother, and Thord Arndisarson that of
Bersi, who struck the first blow and cleft Kormak’s shield. Kormak
struck at Bersi in the same way. Each of them spoiled three shields for
the other. Then Kormak had to strike; he struck, and Bersi parried with
_Hviting_. _Sköfnung_ cut off its point in front of the ridge, and the
sword-point fell on Kormak’s hand, and he was wounded in the thumb,
whose joint was rent, and blood came on the cloak. Thereupon men
intervened, and did not want them to go on fighting. Kormak said, ‘It is
little victory which Bersi has got from my accident, though we part
now’” (Kormak’s Saga, c. 10).
“‘But I think that thou tellest the difficulties in fighting me,’ said
Viking, ‘and that thou despairest when thou seest me.’ Harek said: ‘It
is not so, and I must save thy life, as thou wantest thyself to go into
the open mouth of death (hel); and give thou the first blow, as is
_holmganga law_, for I have challenged thee; but I will stand still for
thee meanwhile, for I am not frightened that it will harm me’”
(Thorstein Vikingson’s Saga, c. 4).
After getting ready, they went to the island.
“There was a fine field not far from the sea, where the _holmganga_ was
to be. There the place of the _holmganga_ was marked by stones placed in
a ring around it. Ljót came thither with his men, prepared for the
_holmganga_ with shield and sword. He was very large and strong, and
when he arrived on the field at the holmgang-place the Berserk frenzy
came upon him, and he howled fiercely and bit his shield.
“Egil made ready for the _holmganga_, having his old shield, and girt
with the sword _Nadr_, with _Dragvandil_ in his hand. He went inside the
marks of the _duelling-place_ (_i.e._, the squares marked out round the
cloak), but Ljót was not ready. Egil raised his sword and sang.
“After the song Ljót came forward and pronounced the law of the
_holmganga_, that he who stepped beyond the mark-stones which are set
around the place of _holmganga_ should ever afterwards be called
_nithing_ (coward).
“Then they rushed at each other, and Egil struck at Ljót, who covered
himself with the shield, while Egil dealt blow after blow so that Ljót
could not strike him. He drew back to get room to wield his sword, but
Egil went equally fast after him and smote most violently. Ljót went out
beyond the mark-stones and to and fro on the field. Thus went the first
attack. Then Ljót asked to be allowed to rest, which Egil
granted....[569]
“Egil bid Ljót to make himself ready. ‘I want this fought out.’ Ljót
started to his feet, and Egil ran forward and at once struck at him. He
went so close to him that he stepped back, and his shield did not cover
him. Then Egil smote him above the knee, and cut off his leg. Ljót fell,
and at once died” (Egil’s Saga, c. 67).
The swords had to be of a certain length.
“Bersi had a shield, and a long keen sword. Thorkel said, ‘The sword
which thou wearest, Bersi, is longer than the laws allow.’ ‘It shall not
be so,’ said Bersi, and brandishing _Hviting_ with both hands he struck
Thorkel his death blow” (Kormak’s Saga, c. 14).
Egil Skallagrimsson had summoned Atli before the _Gulathing_ to get some
property belonging to his wife, which he claimed that Atli had. The
latter offered to prove by the oath of himself and twelve other men that
he had no property belonging to Egil. But Egil said he did not want to
take the oath for his property, and added:
“I will offer thee another law to settle the case with, namely, that we
fight in a _holmganga_ here at the _Thing_, and he who gets the victory
shall have this property. What Egil said was law and an ancient custom,
that every one, whether he was defendant or plaintiff, had the right to
challenge the other party to _holmganga_. Then Atli and Egil shook
hands, and settled it between themselves that they should fight a
_holmganga_, and he who got the victory should possess those estates
about which they contended. It was the custom of duellers not to draw
their sword on the place of _holmganga_, but let the sword hang on the
arm, so that it was ready at once whenever they wanted it” (Egil’s Saga,
c. 57).
It seems to have been customary, after both kinds of duel, to offer
sacrifice of one or two oxen, which the victor slaughtered.
“A large and old bull was led forward; it was called sacrifice-bull; he
who got the victory was to kill it. Sometimes one bull was sacrificed;
sometimes each of the combatants brought one” (Egil’s Saga, c. 68).
There seems to have been a peculiar kind of holmganga called _Kerganga_,
but the regulations concerning this mode of fighting are not explained.
Thorgils, an Icelander, dwelt at Hakon jarl’s, in Norway.
“He went on a trading journey to Upplönd and Sweden and dwelt in the
winter at the house of a bondi called Thrand, a wealthy man, who had a
daughter, Sigrid. A man called Randvid wished to marry her; he was a
wicked man, and a great champion. Thrand refused his consent to the
marriage; then Randvid offered to Thrand a kind of holmganga, which is
called _Kerganga_ (tub-going). The fight takes place in a tub, which is
closed above, and Thrand preferred to fight with a wooden club rather
than marry his daughter to so wicked a man. Then Thorgils said to
Thrand: ‘Thou hast entertained me well, and I will reward it with good,
and fight against Randvid on thy behalf.’ Thrand said he would accept
the offer. Thorgils used the sword from the earth-house (underground
house). Randvid had a stick two feet long, and very stout. The tub was
closed. Randvid asked Thorgils to deal the first blow, because he had
been challenged; he did so, and hit the stick, and it split, and the
sword entered the belly of Randvid. He said then: ‘Now give me the
sword, but take the stick, and I will smite thee with the sword.’ ‘It
seems to me,’ replied Thorgils, ‘that this is a chip, not a stick.’ Soon
after Randvid died; he had trusted in his witchcraft, for he had killed
many a man by this kind of holmgang. Thorgils killed two other vikings,
Snœkoll and Snœlejon. Thrand rewarded him well, and he became very
famous for this deed. He made ready for Iceland the next summer”
(Flóamanna Saga).
A man was often forced to give up his wife when another man challenged
him to _holmganga_, and make the wife the prize of the victor. Many a
man not feeling himself able to cope with the challenger, surrendered
his wife and daughters or sisters to the latter. This acquisition by
_holmganga_ was undoubtedly considered quite legal, and could not be
disputed except by a fresh _holmganga_.
Unn, the wife of Rút, had separated from her husband, but left her
property with him, and got her kinsman, Gunnar of Hlidarendi, to
prosecute her case. Rút named his witnesses, and said the case was
quashed. Gunnar asked:
“‘Are you so near to me you brothers, Höskuld and Rút, that you can hear
my words?’ Rút answered: ‘We can hear, but what dost thou want?’ Gunnar
said: ‘The men here present shall be witnesses that I challenge thee,
Rút, to _holmganga_, and we will fight to-day on the islet here in Oxará
(Axe river); or, if thou wilt not fight, thou must give up all the
property.’ Then Gunnar sang a song.... Gunnar left the court with all
his men, Höskuld and Rút also went home. The case was neither prosecuted
nor defended thereafter. Rút said when he entered the booth: ‘It has
never happened to me before, that a man has challenged me to _holmganga_
and I have declined it.’ Höskuld said: ‘Thou intendest to fight, but
thou shalt not if I have my will, for there is as much difference
between thee and Gunnar as between Mörd and thee; let us rather both
together pay the property to Gunnar.’ The brothers asked the bœndr how
much they would contribute to it; they all answered as much as Rút
wanted. Höskuld added: ‘Then let us go to the booth of Gunnar and give
up the property.’ They went to the booth and called Gunnar, who went out
to the door of the booth. Höskuld said: ‘Now receive the property.’
Gunnar replied: ‘Then give it up, for I am ready to receive it.’ They
made over all the property completely”[570] (Njala, c. 24).
“When they had fought a while Thorgils cut off the end of Svart’s shield
and his foot; but then it was law that men got the inheritance of the
man who fell in a _holmganga_. Thereupon Thorgils cut off Svart’s head
and took all his ships and property” (Flóamanna Saga, c. 16).
One cause of constant duelling was a challenge given on account of
women; and some men, especially Berserks, went about from place to place
making duelling a profession. It was quite common for a maid who had
several suitors to say that she would accept the one who should be
victorious in a duel. This often resulted in the death of one or more of
the combatants; and it appears that even fathers were sometimes
challenged by the suitors.
“One winter there came to Vors (Voss) Thorstein, a kinsman of the
brothers Ivar and Hreidar (with whom the Icelander Eyúlf was stopping),
who owned a farm in Upplönd. He told his trouble, which was that a
Berserk, Asgaut by name, had challenged him to _holmganga_ because he
refused to give his sister to him; he asked them to follow him with many
men to the _holmganga_. They did not like to refuse, and went with
thirty men to Upplönd and to the place where the meeting was to be. They
asked their men if any one wanted to win a wife by _holmganga_ against
Asgaut; but, although they thought the woman fair, no one was ready to
do this. The brothers asked Eyúlf to hold the shield before Thorstein.
Eyúlf said he had done that for no one, not even for himself. ‘I shall
not be happy if he is slain on my hands’ (_i.e._ while I hold the shield
before him); ‘there seems to me no fame in this. If the man is killed,
shall we then go home, leaving matters thus, or get a second and a third
champion? Our disgrace will increase the more, the more men of ours
fall; and little honour will there be on our journey if we go back with
Thorstein unavenged, if he falls. Rather ask of me to go into
_holmganga_ against the Berserk; that is helping one’s friend, but the
other I will not assist in.’ They thanked him, but, nevertheless,
thought he risked too much. He added: ‘It seems to me as if none of us
would go back if he is not avenged, and that it would be worse to fight
against the Berserk if your kinsman is first slain.’ Thereupon he
advanced, and Ivar offered to hold the shield before him. Eyúlf said:
‘That is a generous offer; but I can best take care of it, and the old
saying true is, “One’s own hand is most faithful;”’ then he went to the
place of the _holmganga_. The Berserk said: ‘Will this fool fight
against me?’ Eyúlf replied: ‘Is it not that thou art afraid to fight
against me? It may be that thou art of such a cowardly disposition as to
fear a large man, and braggest before a small one.’ He answered, ‘That
is not true; but I will pronounce for the laws of _holmganga_. Six marks
will absolve me from the _holm_ if I get wounded.’ Eyúlf added: ‘I do
not think it due to observe the laws towards thee when thou puttest a
value on thyself, for in our land (Eyúlf was an Icelander) such a value
as thou settest on thyself would be thought a thrall’s value.’ Eyúlf had
to strike the first blow, and the sword struck the lower part of the
shield and cut off it and the foot of the Berserk. Eyúlf got great fame
from this deed, and thereupon went home with the brothers. Much property
was offered to him, but he said he had not done this for the sake of
property nor for the woman, but rather from friendship towards the
brothers” (Vigaglum’s Saga, c. 4).[571]
“It happened on Yule-evening that the men were to make vows there over
the horn of Bragi. Then the sons of Arngrim made theirs. Hjorvard vowed
that he would marry Ingibjörg, the daughter of Yngvi,[572] king of the
Swedes, at Uppsalir, who was famous through all countries for her beauty
and accomplishments, or else he would never marry. That same spring the
brothers (Hjorvard and Angantyr) made the journey to Uppsalir, and went
before the table of the king; his daughter sat at his side. Hjorvard
told the king of his vow and his errand while all listened. Hjorvard
asked him to say at once what answer he should receive. The king thought
this matter over, knowing how valiant and high-born they were. At that
moment Hjalmar Hugumstori (high-minded) stepped forward and said to the
king: ‘Recollect, lord, how much I have increased your honour since I
came into this land; I have increased your realm so that it is twice as
large; have defended it, brought into your possession the most costly
things, and also placed my services at your free disposal; now, I beg of
you to grant me honour and give me your daughter, on whom my mind has
always been bent. I deserve this better than the Berserk, who has only
done evil in your realm and those of other kings.’ The king thought it
over with double care, and it seemed to him a perplexing matter that
these two chiefs should strive so hard for his daughter. He answered
that either of them was so great and high-born that he would refuse her
to neither; he asked her to choose which of them she liked to marry. She
said that if her father wanted her to marry she would marry the man of
whom she knew good, and not the one of whom she knew only evil, as she
had heard of the sons of Arngrim. When Hjorvard heard her words he
challenged Hjalmar to single fight south in Samsey; he said he should be
called _nithing_ (coward) by every man if he married the maiden without
accepting the challenge. Hjalmar said he was quite ready, and the time
of the fight was at once appointed. The sons of Arngrim went home, and
told their father the result of their errand, and of the challenge to
the fight. Arngrim answered: ‘Never have I been anxious about your
journey before now, but nowhere know I of any match for Hjalmar in
bravery and daring, or for the champion that follows him (Orvar Odd),
who is only second to him in strength and valour.’ They talked no more
about it. Bjartmar, a jarl, ruled Aldeigjuburgh, a very powerful and
famous warrior; he was a great friend of the sons of Arngrim, and they
always had peace-land there. The brothers went to Bjartmar jarl, who at
once made a great feast for them; at this Angantyr asked in marriage the
jarl’s daughter Svafa, and readily won her. The feast was made a wedding
feast, which lasted half a month.
“When the feast was over the sons of Arngrim prepared for their journey
to Samsey. The last night before they left, Angantyr had a dream, which
he told to the jarl: ‘It seemed to me we brothers were in Samsey, and
found many birds there, and killed them all. Then we went to the other
side of the island, and two eagles flew against us. I had a hard fight
against one of them, and at last we both sat down. The other eagle
fought against my brothers, and overcame them all.’ The jarl answered:
‘Such a dream needs no unravelling. The fall of some men is shown to you
by this, and I think it concerns you.’ They said they would not fear
that. The jarl added: ‘All men go when death calls upon them.’ They
spoke no more. When the feast was over the brothers went home, and Svafa
remained with the jarl. They made themselves ready for the fight, and
their father followed them to their ship, and gave good armour to them
all. ‘I think,’ said he, ‘there is need of good weapons now, for you
fight against the most valiant champions.’ Then they parted, and he bade
them farewell. They sailed to Samsey, and went to Munarvog (a bay).
“When they came upon the island Berserk-fury came over them; they
wrestled with the trees as they were wont.
“It is told of Hjalmar that he landed with ships on the other side of
Samsey, in the harbour Unavog. He had two ships, and both were called
_ask_; one hundred very valiant men were on each of them. The brothers
saw the ships, and knew that Hjalmar and Odd (the far-travelling, called
Orvar-Odd) owned them. The sons of Arngrim drew their swords and bit the
edges of their shields. They went to the ships, and six of them went on
board each _ask_; so brave were the men on them that everyone took his
weapons, and no one fled from his place or spoke a word of fear. The
Berserks went along the one side forwards and the other backwards, and
slew every man. Then they went ashore howling. Hjorvard said: ‘Our
father Arngrim has become a fool from old age, as he told us that
Hjalmar and Odd were the bravest champions, and now I saw no man fight
better than the others.’ Angantyr said: ‘Let us not complain that we did
not find our equals; it may be that Odd and Hjalmar are not yet dead.’
Hjalmar and Odd had walked up on the island to see if the Berserks had
come; when they came out of the forest the sons of Arngrim went on land
from their ships with bloody weapons and drawn swords; the Berserk-fury
was over, and they were less strong after it, as it were after an
illness. Odd sang:
“‘Then was (cause of) fear,
Once upon a time,
When they howling
Stepped from the _asks_,
And groaning
On the island stepped,
The inglorious ones,
Twelve together.’
“Hjalmar said: ‘Thou seest that our men are slain, and it seems to me
most likely that we shall all lodge with Odin in Valhöll to-night.’ This
was the only word of fear that Hjalmar ever spoke. Odd answered: ‘I
never saw such fiends, and it is my advice that we escape into the
forest; we two shall not be able to fight the twelve, who have slain
twelve of the bravest men in Svia realm.’ Hjalmar said: ‘Let us never
flee from our foes, let us rather go under their weapons; I will go and
fight the Berserks.’ Odd said: ‘I will not lodge with Odin to-night, and
all these men will be dead ere evening comes, and we two shall live.’
Hjalmar sang:
“‘Valiant men
Go from the warships,
Twelve together,
Inglorious men;
To-night will we,
The two champions,
Lodge with Odin,
And the twelve will live.’
“Odd answered:
“‘To these words
I will answer give;
The twelve Berserks
Will to-night
Lodge with Odin,
But we two live.’
“They saw that Angantyr had _Tyrfing_ in his hand, for it glittered like
a sunbeam. Hjalmar asked: ‘Which wilt thou fight against, Angantyr alone
or his eleven brothers?’ Odd answered: ‘I will fight Angantyr; he will
give hard blows with _Tyrfing_, and I trust my shirt better than my
brynja for shelter.’ Hjalmar said: ‘Have we been in any battle where
thou wert in front of me; thou wishest to fight Angantyr because it
seems to thee a greater feat; now, I am the principal in this duel, and
also heir of the kingdom. Therefore I must have my will; it would be far
from my promise to the king’s daughter in Sweden, to let thee or another
go to this single fight instead of me, and I will fight Angantyr. Odd
said he chose the worse alternative, but Hjalmar had his will. He drew
his sword and walked towards Angantyr; one pointed to the other, the way
to Valhöll. Angantyr said: ‘If any one of us escapes hence no one shall
take another’s weapons; I want to have _Tyrfing_ in my mound if I die;
Odd shall have his shirt and Hjalmar his weapons; those who live shall
make mounds over the other.’ Then Hjalmar and Angantyr went against each
other, and fought with the greatest violence; there was no need to urge
on to attack or defence. They struck hard and often, and sank into the
ground up to their knees. It was like a burning flame when the steels
met; neither heeded anything except to strike as often as possible, and
the ground shook on account of their fight as if it were trembling. They
fought till their armour began to be cut through; then each gave the
other many and large wounds. Their breath came forth from their nostrils
and mouths so that they were like burning stoves. Odd said afterwards a
more warrior-like fight or finer weapons than in that single fight would
never be seen; it is also told in tales far and wide that few more
famous or brave men have been found.
“When Odd and the others had looked on for a long time, they went to
another place and made ready for fight. Odd said to the Berserks: ‘I
suppose you want to follow the custom of warriors, and not that of
thralls; one of you, and no more, shall fight me at a time, if your
courage fails not.’ They consented. Then Hjorvard came forward. Odd went
against him. Odd’s sword was so good that it cut steel as if it were
cloth. They began their fight with great blows, and before long Hjorvard
sank dead to the ground. When the others saw this they scowled horribly
and gnawed the edges of their shields, and froth gushed out of their
mouths. Hervard rose and attacked Odd; the same happened to him, he fell
dead. At this the sorrow of the Berserks turned into rage; they
stretched out their tongues and ground their teeth, roaring like mad
bulls, so that the rocks resounded. Then Seming rushed forth; he was,
next to Angantyr, the best of the eleven. He attacked Odd so fiercely
that he could do no more than defend himself. They fought long, so that
it could not be seen which would get the victory; all their armour was
cut off, but Odd’s shirt protected him so that he was not hurt. Seming
received wounds, but nevertheless did not yield till nearly all his
flesh was cut off his bones. Odd saw no spot on him which was not
bloody. When all his blood had run out of his veins he fell down with
great valour, and at once died. One rose after the other, but Odd at
last slew them all; then he was excessively tired, but not wounded. He
went to where Angantyr and Hjalmar had fought. Angantyr had fallen, and
Hjalmar sat by a hillock, and was as pale as a corpse. Odd went to him
and sang:
“‘What ails thee, Hjalmar,
Thou hast changed colour?
I see that deep wounds
Weaken thee;
Thy helmet is cut,
And the mail-coat on thy side;
Now I think
Thy life is done.’
“Hjalmar sang:
“‘I have sixteen wounds,
And a torn coat-of-mail;
It is dark before my eyes;
I cannot see to walk;
The sword of Angantyr
Touched my heart.
The sharp sword-point
Hardened in poison.
‘I owned fully
Five bœrs together,
But I never
Enjoyed that occupation;
Now I must lie
Deprived of life,
Sundered with sword,
In Samsey.
‘Very high-born men,
The Huskarls, drink
Mead in the hall,
At my father’s;
The ale weakens
Many men
While the cutting of swords
Pains me on the island.
‘The tale will prove true
Which she[573] told me,
That I would not
Come back.
‘Draw from my hand
The red ring,
And take it to the young
Ingibjörg.
It will be to her
A lasting sorrow
That I do not
Come back to Uppsalir.
‘I left the fair
Song of women,
Though ready for pleasure;
I went east with Sóti;
I hurried my journey
And went into a host
The first time,
Away from my good friends.
‘The women on land
Will not hear
That I sheltered
Myself from blows;
The wise maiden
In Sigtunir
Will not laugh
Because I gave way.
* * * * *
‘I left the young
Ingibjörg;
We left her in haste
On that fated day;
It will be to the maiden
A deep sorrow
That she after this
Will never see me.
‘A raven flies from the east
From the high tree,
And after it
An eagle follows;
That is the last eagle
To which I give prey.
It will taste
My blood.
‘Carry thou, to show
That is my will,
My helmet and mail-coat
Into the King’s hall;
The mind of the King’s daughter
Will be moved
When she sees the mail-coat
Cut on the breast.
‘I see where they sit
In Sigtunir,
The maidens who held me
From leaving thence;
Ale or warriors
Ever more
Hjalmar will not cheer
In the King’s hall.’”
(Hervarar Saga, c. 4 and 5.)
After the burial of the Berserks Odd leaves for Sweden.
“Thereafter Odd laid Hjalmar on the ship and sailed away. Then he used
the _idrott_ (skill, art) which had been given him, and hoisted sail in
calm weather and sailed home to Sweden with the dead Hjalmar. He landed
where he wished to land, and drew up his ship; he placed Hjalmar on his
back, walked home to Uppsalir (Upsala) with him, and laid him down at
the door of the hall. He went in with the mail-coat of Hjalmar, and also
his helmet, and put them down on the floor in front of the king, and
told him the tidings which had occurred. Then he went to where Ingibjörg
sat in a chair, sewing a shirt for Hjalmar. Odd said: ‘Here is a ring
which Hjalmar sent thee on his death-day, and therewith his greeting.’
She took the ring, looked at it, but answered nothing; she sank back
between the chair-posts and died at once. Odd burst into loud laughter,
and said, ‘Nothing better has occurred for a long time, and I welcome
it; now they will enjoy each other dead, which they could not alive.’
Odd took her and carried her with his hands, and laid her in the arms of
Hjalmar at the door of the hall, and sent in for the king and told him
to look how he had arranged her. Thereafter the king welcomed Odd, and
seated him in the high seat at his side. When Odd had rested himself the
king said he wanted to make an _arvel_[574] after Hjalmar and Ingibjörg,
and raise a mound over them. The king let everything be done as Odd
ordered. The helmet and mail-coat of Hjalmar were brought forward, and
the men praised his deeds highly, and told how hard it had been to slay
him; they were both placed in one mound, and all went to see this great
mound, for Odd had it made with much honour. He remained quiet that
winter with King Hlodver, who in the autumn gave him men and ten ships,
and he went in the summer to seek Ögmund Eythjofsbani again, but found
him not” (Orvar Odd’s Saga, c. 14).
In the time of King Knut duelling was abolished in Norway, and robbers
and Berserks were outlawed.
“The last summer before the one when Eirik jarl, Hakonsson, made ready
to go west to England to visit King Knut the Great, his brother-in-law,
he placed his son Hakon as ruler over Norway, and gave him into the
hands of his own brother Svein jarl to look after and govern for him,
because Hakon was a child in age. Before Eirik jarl left, he summoned to
him the chiefs and powerful bœndr; they talked much about the laws and
customs of the land, for Eirik jarl was a wise ruler. The men thought it
a great barbarity in the land, that rioters or Berserks challenged
high-born men for the sake of their property or women, and that the one
who fell should have no indemnity paid for his slaying; many suffered
disgrace and loss of property, and some lost their life; therefore Eirik
jarl abolished all _holmgangas_ in Norway, and outlawed all robbers and
Berserks who went about plundering” (Gretti’s Saga, c. 19).
“In the summer a throng of men rode to the Thing—Illugi the Black and
his sons Gunnlaug and Hermund, Thorstein Egilsson and his son Kollsvein,
Önund from Mosfell with all his sons, and Sverting Hafr-Bjarnarson. One
day when a crowd went to the _lögberg_ (law-hill) and the law cases were
ended, Gunnlaug asked for a hearing, and said, ‘Is Hrafn Önundsson
here?’ He said he was. Gunnlaug Ormstúnga then added: ‘Thou knowest that
thou hast got my betrothed, and that thou hast shown enmity towards me;
on that account I will summon thee to _holmganga_ after three days’ time
on Öxarár-holm’ (an islet in the Axe-river (Öxará)). Hrafn replied:
‘This is well offered, as was to be expected from thee, and I am ready
when thou wishest.’ This the kinsmen of both thought lamentable, but it
nevertheless was the law in that time to bid to _holmganga_ the person
by whom a man thought himself wronged. After three nights they made
ready for the _holmganga_, and Illugi the Black followed his son to the
place with very many men, but Skapti (lawman) followed Hrafn and his
father and other kinsmen.... Hermund held the shield before his brother
Gunnlaug, and Sverting Hafr-Bjarnarson that before Hrafn. The one who
first got wounded had to redeem himself from the holmganga with three
marks of silver. Hrafn had the first blow, for he was the challenged
one, and he cut into the top of Gunnlaug’s shield, and his sword broke
at the guards, as the blow was given with great force. The sword-point
rebounded from the shield, and struck Gunnlaug on the cheek, and he was
a little hurt. Both their fathers and many others stepped between them.
Gunnlaug said, ‘I claim that Hrafn is defeated, for he is weaponless.’
Hrafn replied, ‘And I claim that thou art beaten, for thou art wounded.’
Gunnlaug at this grew very angry, and cried that this was not fought
out. His father Illugi would allow them to fight no more at that time.
Gunnlaug added that next time when he and Hrafn were to meet he hoped
his father would be too far away to part them. After this they
separated, and the men went back to their booths. On the following day a
law was enacted at the law-court (of the Thing) that thenceforth all
holmgangas should be abolished; this was done at the advice of the
wisest men in the land who were there present” (Gunnlaug Ormstunga).