called Eider-drake. He lived at Asgeir's-river, in Willowdale; he was
the son of Audun Skokul; he was the first of his kinsmen who came to
Iceland; he took to himself Willowdale. Another son of Audun was named
Thorgrim Hoaryhead; he was the father of Asmund, the father of
Gretter. Asgeir Eider-drake had five children; one of his sons was
called Audun, father of Asgeir, father of Audun, father of Egil, who
had for wife Ulfeid, the daughter of Eyjolf the Lame; their son was
Eyjolf, who was slain at the All Thing. Another of Asgeir's sons was
named Thorvald; his daughter was Wala, whom Bishop Isleef had for
wife; their son was Gizor, the bishop. A third son of Asgeir was named
Kalf. All Asgeir's sons were hopeful men. Kalf Asgeirson was at that
time out travelling, and was accounted of as the worthiest of men. One
of Asgeir's daughters was named Thured; she married Thorkell Kuggi,
the son of Thord Yeller; their son was Thorstein. Another of Asgeir's
daughters was named Hrefna; she was the fairest woman in those
northern countrysides and very winsome. Asgeir was a very mighty man.
It is told how one time Kjartan Olafson went on a journey south to
Burgfirth. Nothing is told of his journey before he got to Burg. There
at that time lived Thorstein, Egil's son, his mother's brother. Bolli
was with him, for the foster-brothers loved each other so dearly that
neither thought he could enjoy himself if they were not together.
Thorstein received Kjartan with loving kindness, and said he should be
glad for his staying there a long rather than a short time. So Kjartan
stayed awhile at Burg. [Sidenote: Kjartan arranges to leave Iceland]
That summer there was a ship standing up in Steam-river-Mouth, and
this ship belonged to Kalf Asgeirson, who had been staying through the
winter with Thorstein, Egil's son. Kjartan told Thorstein in secret
that his chief errand to the south then was, that he wished to buy the
half of Kalf's ship, "for I have set my mind on going abroad," and he
asked Thorstein what sort of a man he thought Kalf was. Thorstein said
he thought he was a good man and true. "I can easily understand," said
Thorstein, "that you wish to see other men's ways of life, and your
journey will be remarkable in one way or another, and your kinsfolk
will be very anxious as to how the journey may speed for you." Kjartan
said it would speed well enough. After that Kjartan bought a half
share in Kalf's ship, and they made up half-shares partnership between
them; Kjartan was to come on board when ten weeks of summer had
passed. Kjartan was seen off with gifts on leaving Burg, and he and
Bolli then rode home. When Olaf heard of this arrangement he said he
thought Kjartan had made up his mind rather suddenly, but added that
he would not foreclose the matter. A little later Kjartan rode to
Laugar to tell Gudrun of his proposed journey abroad. Gudrun said,
"You have decided this very suddenly, Kjartan," and she let fall
sundry words about this, from which Kjartan got to understand that
Gudrun was displeased with it. Kjartan said, "Do not let this
displease you. I will do something else that shall please you." Gudrun
said, "Be then a man of your word, for I shall speedily let you know
what I want." Kjartan bade her do so. [Sidenote: Kjartan goes to
Norway] Gudrun said, "Then, I wish to go out with you this summer; if
that comes off, you would have made amends to me for this hasty
resolve, for I do not care for Iceland." Kjartan said, "That cannot
be, your brothers are unsettled yet, and your father is old, and they
would be bereft of all care if you went out of the land; so you wait
for me three winters." Gudrun said she would promise nothing as to
that matter, and each was at variance with the other, and therewith
they parted. Kjartan rode home. Olaf rode to the Thing that summer,
and Kjartan rode with his father from the west out of Herdholt, and
they parted at North-river-Dale. From thence Kjartan rode to his ship,
and his kinsman Bolli went along with him. There were ten Icelanders
altogether who went with Kjartan on this journey, and none would part
with him for the sake of the love they bore him. So with this
following Kjartan went to the ship, and Kalf Asgeirson greeted them
warmly. Kjartan and Bolli took a great many goods with them abroad.
They now got ready to start, and when the wind blew they sailed out
along Burgfirth with a light and good breeze, and then out to sea.
They had a good journey, and got to Norway to the northwards and came
into Thrandhome, and fell in with men there and asked for tidings.
They were told that change of lords over the land had befallen, in
that Earl Hakon had fallen and King Olaf Tryggvason had come in, and
all Norway had fallen under his power. King Olaf was ordering a change
of faith in Norway, and the people took to it most unequally. Kjartan
and his companions took their craft up to Nidaross. At that time many
Icelanders had come to Norway who were men of high degree. There lay
beside the landing-stage three ships, all owned by Icelanders. One of
the ships belonged to Brand the Bounteous, son of Vermund Thorgrimson.
And another ship belonged to Hallfred the Trouble-Bard. The third ship
belonged to two brothers, one named Bjarni, and the other Thorhall;
they were sons of Broad-river-Skeggi, out of Fleetlithe in the east.
All these men had wanted to go west to Iceland that summer, but the
king had forbidden all these ships to sail because the Icelanders
would not take the new faith that he was preaching. All the Icelanders
greeted Kjartan warmly, but especially Brand, as they had known each
other already before. The Icelanders now took counsel together and
came to an agreement among themselves that they would refuse this
faith that the king preached, and all the men previously named bound
themselves together to do this. Kjartan and his companions brought
their ship up to the landing-stage and unloaded it and disposed of
their goods. [Sidenote: The swimming in the river Nid] King Olaf was
then in the town. He heard of the coming of the ship and that men of
great account were on board. It happened one fair-weather day in the
autumn that the men went out of the town to swim in the river Nid.
Kjartan and his friends saw this. Then Kjartan said to his companions
that they should also go and disport themselves that day. They did so.
There was one man who was by much the best at this sport. [Sidenote:
Kjartan and the townsman] Kjartan asked Bolli if he felt willing to
try swimming against the townsman. Bolli answered, "I don't think I am
a match for him." "I cannot think where your courage can now have got
to," said Kjartan, "so I shall go and try." Bolli replied, "That you
may do if you like." Kjartan then plunges into the river and up to
this man who was the best swimmer and drags him forthwith under and
keeps him down for awhile, and then lets him go up again. And when
they had been up for a long while, this man suddenly clutches Kjartan
and drags him under; and they keep down for such a time as Kjartan
thought quite long enough, when up they come a second time. Not a word
had either to say to the other. The third time they went down
together, and now they keep under for much the longest time, and
Kjartan now misdoubted him how this play would end, and thought he had
never before found himself in such a tight place; but at last they
come up and strike out for the bank. Then said the townsman, "Who is
this man?" Kjartan told him his name. The townsman said, "You are very
deft at swimming. Are you as good at other deeds of prowess as at
this?" Kjartan answered rather coldly, "It was said when I was in
Iceland that the others kept pace with this one. But now this one is
not worth much." The townsman replied, "It makes some odds with whom
you have had to do. But why do you not ask me anything?" Kjartan
replied, "I do not want to know your name." [Sidenote: Kjartan and
King Olaf] The townsman answered, "You are not only a stalwart man,
but you bear yourself very proudly as well, but none the less you
shall know my name, and with whom you have been having a swimming
match. Here is Olaf the king, the son of Tryggvi." Kjartan answered
nothing, but turned away forthwith without his cloak. He had on a
kirtle of red scarlet. The king was then well-nigh dressed; he called
to Kjartan and bade him not go away so soon. Kjartan turned back, but
rather slowly. The king then took a very good cloak off his shoulders
and gave it to Kjartan, saying he should not go back cloakless to his
companions. Kjartan thanked the king for the gift, and went to his own
men and showed them the cloak. His men were nowise pleased as this,
for they thought Kjartan had got too much into the king's power; but
matters went on quietly. The weather set in very hard that autumn, and
there was a great deal of frost, the season being cold. The heathen
men said it was not to be wondered at that the weather should be so
bad; "it is all because of the newfangled ways of the king and this
new faith that the gods are angry." The Icelanders kept all together
in the town during the winter, and Kjartan took mostly the lead among
them. [Sidenote: Kjartan discusses the Christian faith] On the
weather taking a turn for the better, many people came to the town at
the summons of King Olaf. Many people had become Christians in
Thrandhome, yet there were a great many more who withstood the king.
One day the king had a meeting out at Eyrar, and preached the new
faith to men--a long harangue and telling. The people of Thrandhome
had a whole host of men, and in turn offered battle to the king. The
king said they must know that he had had greater things to cope with
than fighting there with churls out of Thrandhome. Then the good men
lost heart and gave the whole case into the king's power, and many
people were baptized then and there. After that, the meeting came to
an end. That same evening the king sent men to the lodgings of the
Icelanders, and bade them get sure knowledge of what they were saying.
They did so. They heard much noise within. Then Kjartan began to
speak, and said to Bolli, "How far are you willing, kinsman, to take
this new faith the king preaches?" "I certainly am not willing
thereto," said Bolli, "for their faith seems to me to be most feeble."
Kjartan said, "Did ye not think the king was holding out threats
against those who should be unwilling to submit to his will?" Bolli
answered, "It certainly seemed to me that he spoke out very clearly
that they would have to take exceeding hard treatment at his hands."
"I will be forced under no one's thumb," said Kjartan, "while I have
power to stand up and wield my weapons. I think it most unmanly, too,
to be taken like a lamb in a fold or a fox in a trap. I think that is
a better thing to choose, if a man must die in any case, to do first
some such deed as shall be held aloft for a long time afterwards."
Bolli said, "What will you do?" "I will not hide it from you,"
[Sidenote: Kjartan's resolve] Kjartan replied; "I will burn the king
in his hall." "There is nothing cowardly in that," said Bolli; "but
this is not likely to come to pass, as far as I can see. The king, I
take it, is one of great good luck and his guardian spirit mighty,
and, besides, he has a faithful guard watching both day and night."
Kjartan said that what most men failed in was daring, however valiant
they might otherwise be. Bolli said it was not so certain who would
have to be taunted for want of courage in the end. But here many men
joined in, saying this was but an idle talk. [Sidenote: King Olaf and
the Icelanders] Now when the king's spies had overheard this, they
went away and told the king all that had been said. The next morning
the king wished to hold a meeting, and summoned all the Icelanders to
it; and when the meeting was opened the king stood up and thanked men
for coming, all those who were his friends and had taken the new
faith. Then he called to him for a parley the Icelanders. The king
asked them if they would be baptized, but they gave little reply to
that. The king said they were making for themselves the choice that
would answer the worst. "But, by the way, who of you thought it the
best thing to do to burn me in my hall?" Then Kjartan answered, "You
no doubt think that he who did say it would not have the pluck to
confess it; but here you can see him." [Sidenote: The king's
preaching] "I can indeed see you," said the king, "man of no small
counsels, but it is not fated for you to stand over my head, done to
death by you; and you have done quite enough that you should be
prevented making a vow to burn more kings in their houses yet, for the
reason of being taught better things than you know and because I do
not know whether your heart was in your speech, and that you have
bravely acknowledged it, I will not take your life. It may also be
that you follow the faith the better the more outspoken you are
against it; and I can also see this, that on the day you let yourself
be baptized of your own free will, several ships' crews will on that
day also take the faith. And I think it likely to happen that your
relations and friends will give much heed to what you speak to them
when you return to Iceland. And it is in my mind that you, Kjartan,
will have a better faith when you return from Norway than you had when
you came hither. Go now in peace and safety wheresoever you like from
the meeting. For the time being you shall not be tormented into
Christianity, for God says that He wills that no one shall come to Him
unwillingly." Good cheer was made at the king's speech, though mostly
from the Christian men; but the heathen left it to Kjartan to answer
as he liked. Kjartan said, "We thank you, king, that you grant safe
peace unto us, and the way whereby you may most surely draw us to
take the faith is, on the one hand, to forgive us great offences, and
on the other to speak in this kindly manner on all matters, in spite
of your this day having us and all our concerns in your power even as
it pleases you. Now, as for myself, I shall receive the faith in
Norway on that understanding alone that I shall give some little
worship to Thor the next winter when I get back to Iceland." Then the
king said and smiled, "It may be seen from the mien of Kjartan that he
puts more trust in his own weapons and strength than in Thor and
Odin." Then the meeting was broken up. After a while many men egged
the king on to force Kjartan and his followers to receive the faith,
and thought it unwise to have so many heathen men near about him. The
king answered wrathfully, and said he thought there were many
Christians who were not nearly so well-behaved as was Kjartan or his
company either, "and for such one would have long to wait." The king
caused many profitable things to be done that winter; he had a church
built and the market-town greatly enlarged. This church was finished
at Christmas. Then Kjartan said they should go so near the church that
they might see the ceremonies of this faith the Christians followed;
and many fell in, saying that would be right good pastime. Kjartan
with his following and Bolli went to the church; in that train was
also Hallfred and many other Icelanders. The king preached the faith
before the people, and spoke both long and tellingly, and the
Christians made good cheer at his speech. [Sidenote: Kjartan's
determination] And when Kjartan and his company went back to their
chambers, a great deal of talk arose as to how they had liked the
looks of the king at this time, which Christians accounted of as the
next greatest festival. "For the king said, so that we might hear,
that this night was born the Lord, in whom we are now to believe, if
we do as the king bids us." Kjartan says: "So greatly was I taken with
the looks of the king when I saw him for the first time, that I knew
at once that he was a man of the highest excellence, and that feeling
has kept steadfast ever since, when I have seen him at folk-meetings,
and that but by much the best, however, I liked the looks of him
to-day; and I cannot help thinking that the turn of our concerns hangs
altogether on our believing Him to be the true God in whom the king
bids us to believe, and the king cannot by any means be more eager in
wishing that I take this faith than I am to let myself be baptized.
The only thing that puts off my going straightway to see the king now
is that the day is far spent, and the king, I take it, is now at
table; but that day will be delayed, on which we, companions, will let
ourselves all be baptized." Bolli took to this kindly, and bade
Kjartan alone look to their affairs. The king had heard of the talk
between Kjartan and his people before the tables were cleared away,
for he had his spies in every chamber of the heathens. The king was
very glad at this, and said, "In Kjartan has come true the saw: 'High
tides best for happy signs.'" [Sidenote: Kjartan and his men become
Christians] And the first thing the next morning early, when the king
went to church, Kjartan met him in the street with a great company of
men. Kjartan greeted the king with great cheerfulness, and said he had
a pressing errand with him. The king took his greeting well, and said
he had had a thoroughly clear news as to what his errand must be, "and
that matter will be easily settled by you." Kjartan begged they should
not delay fetching the water, and said that a great deal would be
needed. The king answered and smiled. "Yes, Kjartan," says he, "on
this matter I do not think your eager-mindedness would part us, not
even if you put the price higher still." After that Kjartan and Bolli
were baptized and all their crew, and a multitude of other men as
well. This was on the second day of Yule before Holy Service. After
that the king invited Kjartan to his Yule feast with Bolli his
kinsman. It is the tale of most men that Kjartan on the day he laid
aside his white baptismal-robes became a liegeman of the king's, he
and Bolli both. Hallfred was not baptized that day, for he made it a
point that the king himself should be his godfather, so the king put
it off till the next day. Kjartan and Bolli stayed with Olaf the king
the rest of the winter. [Sidenote: Kalf wishes to leave Norway] The
king held Kjartan before all other men for the sake of his race and
manly prowess, and it is by all people said that Kjartan was so
winsome that he had not a single enemy within the court. Every one
said that there had never before come from Iceland such a man as
Kjartan. Bolli was also one of the most stalwart of men, and was held
in high esteem by all good men. The winter now passes away, and, as
spring came on, men got ready for their journeys, each as he had a
mind to.
CHAP. XLI
Bolli returns to Iceland, A.D. 999
Kalf Asgeirson went to see Kjartan and asks what he was minded to do
that summer. Kjartan said, "I have been thinking chiefly that we had
better take our ship to England, where there is a good market for
Christian men. But first I will go and see the king before I settle
this, for he did not seem pleased at my going on this journey when we
talked about it in the spring." Then Kalf went away and Kjartan went
to speak to the king, greeting him courteously. The king received him
most kindly, and asked what he and his companion (Kalf) had been
talking about. [Sidenote: Kjartan stays in Norway] Kjartan told what
they had mostly in mind to do, but said that his errand to the king
was to beg leave to go on this journey. "As to that matter, I will
give you your choice, Kjartan. Either you will go to Iceland this
summer, and bring men to Christianity by force or by expedients; but
if you think this too difficult a journey, I will not let you go away
on any account, for you are much better suited to serve noble men than
to turn here into a chapman." Kjartan chose rather to stay with the
king than to go to Iceland and preach the faith to them there, and
said he could not be contending by force against his own kindred.
"Moreover, it would be more likely that my father and other chiefs,
who are near kinsmen of mine, would go against thy will with all the
less stubbornness the better beholden I am under your power." The king
said, "This is chosen both wisely and as beseems a great man." The
king gave Kjartan a whole set of new clothes, all cut out of scarlet
cloth, and they suited him well; for people said that King Olaf and
Kjartan were of an even height when they went under measure. King Olaf
sent the court priest, named Thangbrand, to Iceland. He brought his
ship to Swanfirth, and stayed with Side-Hall all the winter at
Wash-river, and set forth the faith to people both with fair words and
harsh punishments. Thangbrand slew two men who went most against him.
Hall received the faith in the spring, and was baptized on the
Saturday before Easter, with all his household; then Gizor the White
let himself be baptized, so did Hjalti Skeggjason and many other
chiefs, though there were many more who spoke against it; and then
dealings between heathen men and Christians became scarcely free of
danger. [Sidenote: Thangbrand returns from Iceland] Sundry chiefs even
took counsel together to slay Thangbrand, as well as such men who
should stand up for him. Because of this turmoil Thangbrand ran away
to Norway, and came to meet King Olaf, and told him the tidings of
what had befallen in his journey, and said he thought Christianity
would never thrive in Iceland. The king was very wroth at this, and
said that many Icelanders would rue the day unless they came round to
him. That summer Hjalti Skeggjason was made an outlaw at the Thing for
blaspheming the gods. Runolf Ulfson, who lived in Dale, under
Isles'-fells, the greatest of chieftains, upheld the lawsuit against
him. That summer Gizor left Iceland and Hjalti with him, and they came
to Norway, and went forthwith to find King Olaf. The king gave them a
good welcome, and said they had taken a wise counsel; he bade them
stay with him, and that offer they took with thanks. Sverling, son of
Runolf of Dale, had been in Norway that winter, and was bound for
Iceland in the summer. His ship was floating beside the landing stage
all ready, only waiting for a wind. The king forbade him to go away,
and said that no ships should go to Iceland that summer. Sverling went
to the king and pleaded his case, and begged leave to go, and said it
mattered a great deal to him, that they should not have to unship
their cargo again. The king spake, and then he was wroth: "It is well
for the son of a sacrificer to be where he likes it worst." So
Sverling went no whither. That winter nothing to tell of befell. The
next summer the king sent Gizor and Hjalti Skeggjason to Iceland to
preach the faith anew, and kept four men back as hostages Kjartan
Olafson, Halldor, the son of Gudmund the Mighty, Kolbein, son of Thord
the priest of Frey, and Sverling, son of Runolf of Dale. [Sidenote: Of
Ingibjorg the king's sister] Bolli made up his mind to journey with
Gizor and Hjalti, and went to Kjartan, his kinsman, and said, "I am
now ready to depart; I should wait for you through the next winter, if
next summer you were more free to go away than you are now. But I
cannot help thinking that the king will on no account let you go free.
I also take it to be the truth that you yourself call to mind but few
of the things that afford pastime in Iceland when you sit talking to
Ingibjorg, the king's sister." She was at the court of King Olaf, and
the most beautiful of all the women who were at that time in the land.
Kjartan said, "Do not say such things, but bear my greeting to both my
kinsfolk and friends."
CHAP. XLII
Bolli makes love to Gudrun, A.D. 1000
After that Kjartan and Bolli parted, and Gizor and Hjalti sailed from
Norway and had a good journey, and came to the Westmen's Isles at the
time the Althing was sitting, and went from thence to the mainland,
and had there meetings and parleys with their kinsmen. [Sidenote:
Bolli goes to Laugar] Thereupon they went to the Althing and preached
the faith to the people in an harangue both long and telling, and then
all men in Iceland received the faith. Bolli rode from the Thing to
Herdholt in fellowship with his uncle Olaf, who received him with much
loving-kindness. Bolli rode to Laugar to disport himself after he had
been at home for a short time, and a good welcome he had there. Gudrun
asked very carefully about his journey and then about Kjartan. Bolli
answered right readily all Gudrun asked, and said there were no
tidings to tell of his journey. "But as to what concerns Kjartan there
are, in truth, the most excellent news to be told of his ways of life,
for he is in the king's bodyguard, and is there taken before every
other man; but I should not wonder if he did not care to have much to
do with this country for the next few winters to come." [Sidenote: He
talks with Gudrun] Gudrun then asked if there was any other reason for
it than the friendship between Kjartan and the king. Bolli then tells
what sort of way people were talking about the friendship of Kjartan
with Ingibjorg the king's sister, and said he could not help thinking
the king would sooner marry Ingibjorg to Kjartan than let him go away
if the choice lay between the two things. Gudrun said these were good
tidings, "but Kjartan would be fairly matched only if he got a good
wife." Then she let the talk drop all of a sudden and went away and
was very red in the face; but other people doubted if she really
thought these tidings as good as she gave out she thought they were.
Bolli remained at home in Herdholt all that summer, and had gained
much honour from his journey; all his kinsfolk and acquaintances set
great store by his valiant bearing; he had, moreover, brought home
with him a great deal of wealth. He would often go over to Laugar and
while away time talking to Gudrun. One day Bolli asked Gudrun what she
would answer if he were to ask her in marriage. Gudrun replied at
once, "No need for you to bespeak such a thing, Bolli, for I cannot
marry any man whilst I know Kjartan to be still alive." Bolli
answered, "I think then you will have to abide husbandless for sundry
winters if you are to wait for Kjartan; he might have chosen to give
me some message concerning the matter if he set his heart at all
greatly on it." Sundry words they gave and took, each at variance with
the other. Then Bolli rode home.
CHAP. XLIII
Kjartan comes back to Iceland, A.D. 1001
A little after this Bolli talked to his uncle Olaf, and said, "It has
come to this, uncle, that I have it in mind to settle down and marry,
for I am now grown up to man's estate. In this matter I should like
to have the assistance of your words and your backing-up, for most of
the men hereabouts are such as will set much store by your words."
Olaf replied, "Such is the case with most women, I am minded to think,
that they would be fully well matched in you for a husband. And I take
it you have not broached this matter without first having made up your
mind as to where you mean to come down." [Sidenote: Bolli proposes to
Gudrun] Bolli said, "I shall not go beyond this countryside to woo
myself a wife whilst there is such an goodly match so near at hand. My
will is to woo Gudrun, Osvif's daughter, for she is now the most
renowned of women." Olaf answered, "Ah, that is just a matter with
which I will have nothing to do. To you it is in no way less well
known, Bolli, than to me, what talk there was of the love between
Kjartan and Gudrun; but if you have set your heart very much on this,
I will put no hindrance in the way if you and Osvif settle the matter
between you. But have you said anything to Gudrun about it?" Bolli
said that he had once hinted at it, but that she had not given much
heed to it, "but I think, however, that Osvif will have most to say in
the matter." Olaf said Bolli could go about the business as it pleased
himself. Not very long after Bolli rode from home with Olaf's sons,
Halldor and Steinthor; there were twelve of them together. They rode
to Laugar, and Osvif and his sons gave them a good welcome. [Sidenote:
He is accepted] Bolli said he wished to speak to Osvif, and he set
forth his wooing, and asked for the hand of Gudrun, his daughter.
Osvif answered in this wise, "As you know, Bolli, Gudrun is a widow,
and has herself to answer for her, but, as for myself, I shall urge
this on." Osvif now went to see Gudrun, and told her that Bolli
Thorliekson had come there, "and has asked you in marriage; it is for
you now to give the answer to this matter. And herein I may speedily
make known my own will, which is, that Bolli will not be turned away
if my counsel shall avail." Gudrun answered, "You make a swift work of
looking into this matter; Bolli himself once bespoke it before me, and
I rather warded it off, and the same is still uppermost in my mind."
Osvif said, "Many a man will tell you that this is spoken more in
overweening pride than in wise forethought if you refuse such a man as
is Bolli. But as long as I am alive, I shall look out for you, my
children, in all affairs which I know better how to see through things
than you do." And as Osvif took such a strong view of the matter,
Gudrun, as far as she was concerned, would not give an utter refusal,
yet was most unwilling on all points. The sons of Osvif's urged the
matter on eagerly, seeing what great avail an alliance with Bolli
would be to them; so the long and short of the matter was that the
betrothal took place then and there, and the wedding was to be held at
the time of the winter nights.[5] Thereupon Bolli rode home and told
this settlement to Olaf, who did not hide his displeasure thereat.
[Sidenote: The wedding] Bolli stayed on at home till he was to go to
the wedding. He asked his uncle to it, but Olaf accepted it nowise
quickly, though, at last, he yielded to the prayers of Bolli. It was a
noble feast this at Laugar. Bolli stayed there the winter after. There
was not much love between Gudrun and Bolli so far as she was
concerned. When the summer came, and ships began to go and come
between Iceland and Norway, the tidings spread to Norway that Iceland
was all Christian. King Olaf was very glad at that, and gave leave to
go to Iceland unto all those men whom he had kept as hostages, and to
fare whenever they liked. Kjartan answered, for he took the lead of
all those who had been hostages, "Have great thanks, Lord King, and
this will be the choice we take, to go and see Iceland this summer."
Then King Olaf said, "I must not take back my word, Kjartan, yet my
order pointed rather to other men than to yourself, for in my view
you, Kjartan, have been more of a friend than a hostage through your
stay here. My wish would be, that you should not set your heart on
going to Iceland though you have noble relations there; for, I take
it, you could choose for yourself such a station in life in Norway,
the like of which would not be found in Iceland." Then Kjartan
answered, "May our Lord reward you, sire, for all the honours you have
bestowed on me since I came into your power, but I am still in hopes
that you will give leave to me, no less than to the others you have
kept back for a while." The king said so it should be, but avowed
that it would be hard for him to get in his place any untitled man
such as Kjartan was. [Sidenote: Kjartan prepares to leave Norway] That
winter Kalf Asgeirson had been in Norway and had brought, the autumn
before, west-away from England, the ship and merchandise he and
Kjartan had owned. And when Kjartan had got leave for his journey to
Iceland Kalf and he set themselves to get the ship ready. And when the
ship was all ready Kjartan went to see Ingibjorg, the king's sister.
She gave him a cheery welcome, and made room for him to sit beside
her, and they fell a-talking together, and Kjartan tells Ingibjorg
that he has arranged his journey to Iceland. Then Ingibjorg said, "I
am minded to think, Kjartan, that you have done this of your own
wilfulness rather than because you have been urged by men to go away
from Norway and to Iceland." But thenceforth words between them were
drowned in silence. Amidst this Ingibjorg turns to a "mead-cask" that
stood near her, and takes out of it a white coif inwoven with gold and
gives it to Kjartan, saying, that it was far too good for Gudrun
Osvif's daughter to fold it round her head, yet "you will give her the
coif as a bridal gift, for I wish the wives of the Icelanders to see
as much as that she with whom you have had your talks in Norway comes
of no thrall's blood." It was in a pocket of costly stuff, and was
altogether a most precious thing. "Now I shall not go to see you off,"
said Ingibjorg. "Fare you well, and hail!" After that Kjartan stood
up and embraced Ingibjorg, and people told it as a true story that
they took it sorely to heart being parted. [Sidenote: The gifts] And
now Kjartan went away and unto the king, and told the king he now was
ready for his journey. Then the king led Kjartan to his ship and many
men with him, and when they came to where the ship was floating with
one of its gangways to land, the king said, "Here is a sword, Kjartan,
that you shall take from me at our parting; let this weapon be always
with you, for my mind tells me you will never be a 'weapon-bitten' man
if you bear this sword." It was a most noble keepsake, and much
ornamented. Kjartan thanked the king with fair words for all the
honour and advancement he had bestowed on him while he had been in
Norway. Then the king spoke, "This I will bid you, Kjartan, that you
keep your faith well." After that they parted, the king and Kjartan in
dear friendship, and Kjartan stepped on board his ship. The king
looked after him and said, "Great is the worth of Kjartan and his
kindred, but to cope with their fate is not an easy matter."
[Footnote 5: Winter nights (vetrnaetr), the two last days of autumn and
the first day of winter.]
CHAP. XLIV
Kjartan comes home, A.D. 1001