<i>Thorbiorn Angle goes with his Foster-mother out to Drangey</i>.
Thorbiorn Angle had a foster-mother, Thurid by name, exceeding old,
and meet for little, as folk deemed, very cunning she had been in
many and great matters of lore, when she was young, and men were yet
heathen; but men thought of her as of one, who had lost all that. But
now, though Christ's law were established in the land, yet abode still
many sparks of heathendom. It had been law in the land, that men were
not forbidden to sacrifice secretly, or deal with other lore of eld,
but it was lesser outlawry if such doings oozed out. Now in such wise
it fared with many, that <i>hand for wont did yearn</i>, and things
grew handiest by time that had been learned in youth.
So now, whenas Thorbiorn Angle was empty of all plots, he sought for
help there, whereas most folk deemed it most unlike that help was--at
the hands of his foster-mother, in sooth, and asked, what counsel was
in her therefor.
She answered, "Now belike matters have come to this, even as the saw
says--<i>To the goat-house for wool</i>: but what could I do less than
this, to think myself before folk of the country-side, but be a man
of nought, whenso anything came to be tried? nor see I how I may fare
worse than thou, though I may scarce rise from my bed. But if thou art
to have my rede, then shall I have my will as to how and what things
are done."
He gave his assent thereto, and said that she had long been of
wholesome counsel to him.
Now the time wore on to Twainmonth of summer; and one fair-weather day
the carline spake to Angle,
"Now is the weather calm and bright, and I will now that thou fare
to Drangey and pick a quarrel with Grettir; I shall go with thee, and
watch how heedful he may be of his words; and if I see them, I shall
have some sure token as to how far they are befriended of fortune, and
then shall I speak over them such words as seem good to me."
Angle answered, "Loth am I to be faring to Drangey, for ever am I of
worser mind when I depart thence than when I come thereto."
Then said the carline, "Nought will I do for thee if thou sufferest me
to rule in no wise."
"Nay, so shall it not be, foster-mother," said he; "but so much have
I said, as that I would so come thither the third time that somewhat
should be made of the matter betwixt us."
"The chance of that must be taken," said the carline "and many a heavy
labour must thou have, or ever Grettir be laid to earth; and oft will
it be doubtful to thee what fortune thine shall be, and heavy troubles
wilt thou get therefrom when that is done; yet art thou so bounden
here-under, that to somewhat must thou make up thy mind."
Thereafter Thorbiorn Angle let put forth a ten-oared boat, and he went
thereon with eleven men, and the carline was in their company.
So they fell to rowing as the weather went, out to Drangey; and when
the brothers saw that, they stood forth at the ladders, and they began
to talk the matter over yet once more; and Thorbiorn said, that he was
come yet again, to talk anew of their leaving the island, and that
he would deal lightly with his loss of money and Grettir's dwelling
there, if so be they might part without harm. But Grettir said that he
had no words to make atwixt and atween of his going thence.
"Oft have I so said," says he, "and no need there is for thee to talk
to me thereon; ye must even do as ye will, but here will I abide,
whatso may come to hand."
Now Thorbiorn deemed, that this time also his errand was come to
nought, and he said,
"Yea, I deemed I knew with what men of hell I had to do; and most like
it is that a day or two will pass away ere I come hither again."
"I account that not in the number of my griefs, though thou never
comest back," said Grettir.
Now the carline lay in the stern, with clothes heaped up about and
over her, and with that she moved, and said,
"Brave will these men be, and luckless withal; far hast thou outdone
them in manliness; thou biddest them choice of many goodly things,
but they say nay to all, and few things lead surer to ill, than not to
know how to take good. Now this I cast over thee, Grettir, that thou
be left of all health, wealth, and good-hap, all good heed and wisdom:
yea, and that the more, the longer thou livest; good hope I have,
Grettir, that thy days of gladness shall be fewer here in time to come
than in the time gone by."
Now when Grettir heard these words, he was astonied withal, and said,
"What fiend is there in the boat with them?" Illugi answers, "I deem
that it will be the carline, Thorbiorn's foster-mother."
"Curses on the witch-wight!" says Grettir, "nought worse could have
been looked for; at no words have I shuddered like as I shuddered
at those words she spake; and well I wot that from her, and her foul
cunning, some evil will be brought on us; yet shall she have some
token to mind her that she has sought us here."
Therewithal he caught up a marvellous great stone, and cast it down on
to the boat, and it smote that clothes-heap; and a longer stone-throw
was that than Thorbiorn deemed any man might make; but therewithal a
great shriek arose, for the stone had smitten the carline's thigh, and
broken it.