<i>Of Yule at Haramsey, and how Grettir dealt with the Bearserks</i>.
Now the summer before these things Earl Eric Hakonson made ready to
go from his land west to England, to see King Knut the Mighty, his
brother-in-law, but left behind him in the rule of Norway Hakon, his
son, and gave him into the hands of Earl Svein, his brother, for the
watching and warding of his realm, for Hakon was a child in years.
But before Earl Eric went away from the land, he called together lords
and rich bonders, and many things they spoke on laws and the rule of
the land, for Earl Eric was a man good at rule. Now men thought it an
exceeding ill fashion in the land that runagates or bearserks called
to holm high-born men for their fee or womankind, in such wise, that
whosoever should fall before the other should lie unatoned; hereof
many got both shame and loss of goods, and some lost their lives
withal; and therefore Earl Eric did away with all holm-gangs and
outlawed all bearserks who fared with raids and riots.
In the making of this law, the chief of all, with Earl Eric, was
Thorfinn Karrson, from Haramsey, for he was a wise man, and a dear
friend of the Earls.
Two brothers are named as being of the worst in these matters,
one hight Thorir Paunch, the other Ogmund the Evil; they were of
Halogaland kin, bigger and stronger than other men. They wrought the
bearserks'-gang and spared nothing in their fury; they would take away
the wives of men and hold them for a week or a half-month, and then
bring them back to their husbands; they robbed wheresoever they came,
or did some other ill deeds. Now Earl Eric made them outlaws through
the length and breadth of Norway, and Thorfinn was the eagerest of men
in bringing about their outlawry, therefore they deemed that they owed
him ill-will enow.
So the Earl went away from the land, as is said in his Saga; but Earl
Svein bore sway over Norway. Thorfinn went home to his house, and sat
at home till just up to Yule, as is aforesaid; but at Yule he made
ready to go to his farm called Slysfirth, which is on the mainland,
and thither he had bidden many of his friends. Thorfinn's wife could
not go with her husband, for her daughter of ripe years lay ill
a-bed, so they both abode at home. Grettir was at home too, and
eight house-carles. Now Thorfinn went with thirty freedmen to the
Yule-feast, whereat there was the greatest mirth and joyance among
men.
Now Yule-eve comes on, and the weather was bright and calm; Grettir
was mostly abroad this day, and saw how ships fared north and south
along the land, for each one sought the other's home where the Yule
drinking was settled to come off. By this time the goodman's daughter
was so much better that she could walk about with her mother, and thus
the day wore on.
Now Grettir sees how a ship rows up toward the island; it was not
right big, but shield-hung it was from stem to stern, and stained all
above the sea: these folk rowed smartly, and made for the boat-stands
of goodman Thorfinn, and when the keel took land, those who were
therein sprang overboard. Grettir cast up the number of the men, and
they were twelve altogether; he deemed their guise to be far from
peaceful. They took up their ship and bore it up from the sea;
thereafter they ran up to the boat-stand, and therein was that big
boat of Thorfinn, which was never launched to sea by less than thirty
men, but these twelve shot it in one haul down to the shingle of the
foreshore; and thereon they took up their own bark and bore it into
the boat-stand.
Now Grettir thought that he could see clear enough that they would
make themselves at home. But he goes down to meet them, and welcomes
them merrily, and asks who they were and what their leader was hight;
he to whom these words were spoken answered quickly, and said that his
name was Thorir, and that he was called Paunch, and that his brother
was Ogmund, and that the others were fellows of theirs.
"I deem," said Thorir, "that thy master Thorfinn has heard tell of us;
is he perchance at home?"
Grettir answered, "Lucky men are ye, and hither have come in a good
hour, if ye are the men I take you to be; the goodman is gone away
with all his home-folk who are freemen, and will not be home again
till after Yule; but the mistress is at home, and so is the goodman's
daughter; and if I thought that I had some ill-will to pay back, I
should have chosen above all things to have come just thus; for here
are all matters in plenty whereof ye stand in need both beer, and all
other good things."
Thorir held his peace, while Grettir let this tale run on, then he
said to Ogmund--
"How far have things come to pass other than as I guessed? and now am
I well enough minded to take revenge on Thorfinn for having made us
outlaws; and this man is ready enough of tidings, and no need have we
to drag the words out of him."
"Words all may use freely," said Grettir, "and I shall give you such
cheer as I may; and now come home with me."
They bade him have thanks therefor, and said they would take his
offer.
But when they came home to the farm, Grettir took Thorir by the hand
and led him into the hall; and now was Grettir mightily full of words.
The mistress was in the hall, and had had it decked with hangings, and
made all fair and seemly; but when she heard Grettir's talk, she stood
still on the floor, and asked whom he welcomed in that earnest wise.
He answered, "Now, mistress, is it right meet to welcome these guests
merrily, for here is come goodman Thorir Paunch and the whole twelve
of them, and are minded to sit here Yule over, and a right good hap it
is, for we were few enough before."
She answered, "Am I to number these among bonders and goodmen, who are
the worst of robbers and ill-doers? a large share of my goods had I
given that they had not come here as at this time; and ill dost thou
reward Thorfinn, for that he took thee a needy man from shipwreck and
has held thee through the winter as a free man."
Grettir said, "It would be better to take the wet clothes off these
guests than to scold at me; since for that thou mayst have time long
enough."
Then said Thorir, "Be not cross-grained, mistress; nought shall thou
miss thy husband's being away, for a man shall be got in his place
for thee, yea, and for thy daughter a man, and for each of the
home-women."
"That is spoken like a man," said Grettir, "nor will they thus have
any cause to bewail their lot."
Now all the women rushed forth from the hall smitten with huge dread
and weeping; then said Grettir to the bearserks, "Give into my hands
what it pleases you to lay aside of weapons and wet clothes, for the
folk will not be yielding to us while they are scared."
Thorir said he heeded not how women might squeal; "But," said he,
"thee indeed we may set apart from the other home-folk, and methinks
we may well make thee our man of trust."
"See to that yourselves," said Grettir, "but certes I do not take to
all men alike."
Thereupon they laid aside the more part of their weapons, and
thereafter Grettir said--
"Methinks it is a good rede now that ye sit down to table and drink
somewhat, for it is right likely that ye are thirsty after the
rowing."
They said they were ready enough for that, but knew not where to find
out the cellar; Grettir asked if they would that he should see for
things and go about for them. The bearserks said they would be right
fain of that; so Grettir fetched beer and gave them to drink; they
were mightily weary, and drank in huge draughts, and still he let them
have the strongest beer that there was, and this went on for a long
time, and meanwhile he told them many merry tales. From all this there
was din enough to be heard among them, and the home-folk were nowise
fain to come to them.
Now Thorir said, "Never yet did I meet a man unknown to me, who would
do us such good deeds as this man; now, what reward wilt thou take of
us for thy work?"
Grettir answered, "As yet I look to no reward for this; but if we be
even such friends when ye go away, as it looks like we shall be, I am
minded to join fellowship with you; and though I be of less might than
some of you, yet shall I not let any man of big redes."
Hereat they were well pleased, and would settle the fellowship with
vows.
Grettir said that this they should not do, "For true is the old saw,
<i>Ale is another man</i>, nor shall ye settle this in haste any
further than as I have said, for on both sides are we men little meet
to rule our tempers."
They said that they would not undo what they had said.
Withal the evening wore on till it grew quite dark; then sees Grettir
that they were getting very heavy with drink, so he said--
"Do ye not find it time to go to sleep?"
Thorir said, "Time enough forsooth, and sure shall I be to keep to
what I have promised the mistress."