where Thorkell Eyjolfson sits at home in lordly way. His and Gudrun's
son, Gellir, grew up there at home, and was early both a manly fellow
and winning. It is said how once upon a time Thorkell told Gudrun a
dream he had had. "I dreamed," he said, "that I had so great a beard
that it spread out over the whole of Broadfirth." Thorkell bade her
read his dream. Gudrun said, "What do you think this dream betokens?"
He said, "To me it seems clear that in it is hinted that my power will
stand wide about the whole of Broadfirth." Gudrun said, "Maybe that
such is the meaning of it, but I rather should think that thereby is
betokened that you will dip your beard down into Broadfirth." That
same summer Thorkell runs out his ship and gets it ready for Norway.
His son, Gellir, was then twelve winters old, and he went abroad with
his father. [Sidenote: Thorkell in Norway] Thorkell makes it known
that he means to fetch timber to build his church with, and sails
forthwith into the main sea when he was ready. He had an easy voyage
of it, but not a very short one, and they hove into Norway
northwardly. King Olaf then had his seat in Thrandheim, and Thorkell
sought forthwith a meeting with King Olaf, and his son Gellir with
him. They had there a good welcome. So highly was Thorkell accounted
of that winter by the king, that all folk tell that the king gave him
not less than one hundred marks of refined silver. The king gave to
Gellir at Yule a cloak, the most precious and excellent of gifts. That
winter King Olaf had a church built in the town of timber, and it was
a very great minster, all materials thereto being chosen of the best.
In the spring the timber which the king gave to Thorkell was brought
on board ship, and large was that timber and good in kind, for
Thorkell looked closely after it. Now it happened one morning early
that the king went out with but few men, and saw a man up on the
church which then was being built in the town. He wondered much at
this, for it was a good deal earlier than the smiths were wont to be
up. Then the king recognised the man, and, lo! there was Thorkell
Eyjolfson taking the measure of all the largest timber, crossbeams,
sills, and pillars. The king turned at once thither, and said: "What
now, Thorkell, do you mean after these measurements to shape the
church timber which you are taking to Iceland?" "Yes, in truth, sire,"
said Thorkell. Then said King Olaf, "Cut two ells off every main beam,
and that church will yet be the largest built in Iceland." Thorkell
answered, "Keep your timber yourself if you think you have given me
too much, or your hand itches to take it back, but not an ell's length
shall I cut off it. I shall both know how to go about and how to carry
out getting other timber for me." [Sidenote: His measuring of King
Olaf's church] Then says the king most calmly, "So it is, Thorkell,
that you are not only a man of much account, but you are also now
making yourself too big, for, to be sure, it is too overweening for
the son of a mere peasant to try to vie with us. But it is not true
that I begrudge you the timber, if only it be fated to you to build a
church therewith; for it will never be large enough for all your pride
to find room to lie inside it. But near it comes to the foreboding of
my mind, that the timber will be of little use to men, and that it
will be far from you ever to get any work by man done with this
timber." After that they ceased talking, and the king turned away, and
it was marked by people that it misliked him how Thorkell accounted as
of nought what he said. Yet the king himself did not let people get
the wind of it, and he and Thorkell parted in great good-will.
Thorkell got on board his ship and put to sea. They had a good wind,
and were not long out about the main. Thorkell brought his ship to
Ramfirth, and rode soon from his ship home to Holyfell, where all folk
were glad to see him. [Sidenote: Thorkell's return] In this journey
Thorkell had gained much honour. He had his ship hauled ashore and
made snug, and the timber for the church he gave to a caretaker, where
it was safely bestowed, for it could not be brought from the north
this autumn, as he was at all time full of business. Thorkell now sits
at home at his manor throughout the winter. He had Yule-drinking at
Holyfell, and to it there came a crowd of people; and altogether he
kept up a great state that winter. Nor did Gudrun stop him therein;
for she said the use of money was that people should increase their
state therewith; moreover, whatever Gudrun must needs be supplied with
for all purposes of high-minded display, that (she said) would be
readily forthcoming (from her husband). Thorkell shared that winter
amongst his friends many precious things he had brought with him out
to Iceland.
CHAP. LXXV
Thorkell and Thorstein and Halldor Olafson, A.D. 1026
That winter after Yule Thorkell got ready to go from home north to
Ramfirth to bring his timber from the north. He rode first up into the
Dales and then to Lea-shaws to Thorstein, his kinsman, where he
gathered together men and horses. He afterwards went north to Ramfirth
and stayed there awhile, taken up with the business of his journey,
and gathered to him horses from about the firth, for he did not want
to make more than one journey of it, if that could be managed. But
this did not speed swiftly, and Thorkell was busy at this work even
into Lent. At last he got under way with the work, and had the wood
dragged from the north by more than twenty horses, and had the timber
stacked on Lea-Eyr, meaning later on to bring it in a boat out to
Holyfell. [Sidenote: The bargain with Halldor] Thorstein owned a large
ferry-boat, and this boat Thorkell was minded to use for his homeward
voyage. Thorkell stayed at Lea-shaws through Lent, for there was dear
friendship between these kinsmen. Thorstein said one day to Thorkell,
they had better go to Herdholt, "for I want to make a bid for some
land from Halldor, he having but little money since he paid the
brothers the weregild for their father, and the land being just what I
want most." Thorkell bade him do as he liked; so they left home a
party of twenty men together. They come to Herdholt, and Halldor gave
them good welcome, and was most free of talk with them. There were few
men at home, for Halldor had sent his men north to Steingrims-firth,
as a whale had come ashore there in which he owned a share. Beiner the
Strong was at home, the only man now left alive of those who had been
there with Olaf, the father of Halldor. Halldor had said to Beiner at
once when he saw Thorstein and Thorkell riding up, "I can easily see
what the errand of these kinsmen is--they are going to make me a bid
for my land, and if that is the case they will call me aside for a
talk; I guess they will seat themselves each on either side of me; so,
then, if they should give me any trouble you must not be slower to set
on Thorstein than I on Thorkell. You have long been true to us
kinsfolk. I have also sent to the nearest homesteads for men, and at
just the same moment I should like these two things to happen: the
coming in of the men summoned, and the breaking up of our talk."
[Sidenote: Halldor gets the best of it] Now as the day wore on,
Thorstein hinted to Halldor that they should all go aside and have
some talk together, "for we have an errand with you." Halldor said it
suited him well. Thorstein told his followers they need not come with
them, but Beiner went with them none the less, for he thought things
came to pass very much after what Halldor had guessed they would. They
went very far out into the field. Halldor had on a pinned-up cloak
with a long pin brooch, as was the fashion then. Halldor sat down on
the field, but on either side of him each of these kinsmen, so near
that they sat well-nigh on his cloak; but Beiner stood over them with
a big axe in his hand. Then said Thorstein, "My errand here is that I
wish to buy land from you, and I bring it before you now because my
kinsman Thorkell is with me; I should think that this would suit us
both well, for I hear that you are short of money, while your land is
costly to husband. I will give you in return an estate that will
beseem you, and into the bargain as much as we shall agree upon." In
the beginning Halldor took the matter as if it were not so very far
from his mind, and they exchanged words concerning the terms of the
purchase; and when they felt that he was not so far from coming to
terms, Thorkell joined eagerly in the talk, and tried to bring the
bargain to a point. [Sidenote: He refuses to deal with them] Then
Halldor began to draw back rather, but they pressed him all the more;
yet at last it came to this, that he was the further from the bargain
the closer they pressed him. Then said Thorkell, "Do you not see,
kinsman Thorstein, how this is going? Halldor has delayed the matter
for us all day long, and we have sat here listening to his fooling and
wiles. Now if you want to buy the land we must come to closer
quarters." Thorstein then said he must know what he had to look
forward to, and bade Halldor now come out of the shadow as to whether
he was willing to come to the bargain. Halldor answered, "I do not
think I need keep you in the dark as to this point, that you will have
to go home to-night without any bargain struck." Then said Thorstein,
"Nor do I think it needful to delay making known to you what we have
in our mind to do; for we, deeming that we shall get the better of you
by reason of the odds on our side, have bethought us of two choices
for you: one choice is, that you do this matter willingly and take in
return our friendship; but the other, clearly a worse one, is, that
you now stretch out your hand against your own will and sell me the
land of Herdholt." But when Thorstein spoke in this outrageous manner,
Halldor leapt up so suddenly that the brooch was torn from his cloak,
and said, "Something else will happen before I utter that which is not
my will." "What is that?" said Thorstein. "A pole-axe will stand on
your head from one of the worst of men, and thus cast down your
insolence and unfairness." Thorkell answered, "That is an evil
prophecy, and I hope it will not be fulfilled; and now I think there
is ample cause why you, Halldor, should give up your land and have
nothing for it." [Sidenote: Thorkell and Thorstein return home
disgusted] Then Halldor answered, "Sooner you will be embracing the
sea-tangle in Broadfirth than I sell my land against my own will."
Halldor went home after that, and the men he had sent for came
crowding up to the place. Thorstein was of the wrothest, and wanted
forthwith to make an onset on Halldor. Thorkell bade him not to do so,
"for that is the greatest enormity at such a season as this; but when
this season wears off, I shall not stand in the way of his and ours
clashing together." Halldor said he was given to think he would not
fail in being ready for them. After that they rode away and talked
much together of this their journey; and Thorstein, speaking thereof,
said that, truth to tell, their journey was most wretched. "But why,
kinsman Thorkell, were you so afraid of falling on Halldor and putting
him to some shame?" Thorkell answered, "Did you not see Beiner, who
stood over you with the axe reared aloft? Why, it was an utter folly,
for forthwith on seeing me likely to do anything, he would have driven
that axe into your head." They rode now home to Lea-shaws; and Lent
wears and Passion Week sets in.
CHAP. LXXVI
The Drowning of Thorkell, A.D. 1026
[Sidenote: Thorkell goes for his wood] On Maundy Thursday, early in
the morning, Thorkell got ready for his journey. Thorstein set himself
much against it: "For the weather looks to me uncertain," said he.
Thorkell said the weather would do all right. "And you must not hinder
me now, kinsman, for I wish to be home before Easter." So now Thorkell
ran out the ferry-boat, and loaded it. But Thorstein carried the
lading ashore from out the boat as fast as Thorkell and his followers
put it on board. Then Thorkell said, "Give over now, kinsman, and do
not hinder our journey this time; you must not have your own way in
this." Thorstein said, "He of us two will now follow the counsel that
will answer the worst, for this journey will cause the happening of
great matters." Thorkell now bade them farewell till their next
meeting, and Thorstein went home, and was exceedingly downcast. He
went to the guest-house, and bade them lay a pillow under his head,
the which was done. The servant-maid saw how the tears ran down upon
the pillow from his eyes. And shortly afterwards a roaring blast
struck the house, and Thorstein said, "There, we now can hear roaring
the slayer of kinsman Thorkell." [Sidenote: The drowning of Thorkell]
Now to tell of the journey of Thorkell and his company: they sail this
day out, down Broadfirth, and were ten on board. The wind began to
blow very high, and rose to full gale before it blew over. They pushed
on their way briskly, for the men were most plucky. Thorkell had with
him the sword Skofnung, which was laid in the locker. Thorkell and his
party sailed till they came to Bjorn's isle, and people could watch
them journey from both shores. But when they had come thus far,
suddenly a squall caught the sail and overwhelmed the boat. There
Thorkell was drowned and all the men who were with him. The timber
drifted ashore wide about the islands, the corner-staves (pillars)
drove ashore in the island called Staff-isle. Skofnung stuck fast to
the timbers of the boat, and was found in Skofnungs-isle. That same
evening that Thorkell and his followers were drowned, it happened at
Holyfell that Gudrun went to the church, when other people had gone to
bed, and when she stepped into the lich-gate she saw a ghost standing
before her. He bowed over her and said, "Great tidings, Gudrun." She
said, "Hold then your peace about them, wretch." [Sidenote: Gudrun and
the ghosts] Gudrun went on to the church, as she had meant to do, and
when she got up to the church she thought she saw that Thorkell and
his companions were come home and stood before the door of the church,
and she saw that water was running off their clothes. Gudrun did not
speak to them, but went into the church, and stayed there as long as
it seemed good to her. After that she went to the guest-room, for she
thought Thorkell and his followers must have gone there; but when she
came into the chamber, there was no one there. Then Gudrun was struck
with wonder at the whole affair. On Good Friday Gudrun sent her men to
find out matters concerning the journeying of Thorkell and his
company, some up to Shawstrand and some out to the islands. By then
the flotsam had already come to land wide about the islands and on
both shores of the firth. The Saturday before Easter the tidings got
known and great news they were thought to be, for Thorkell had been a
great chieftain. Thorkell was eight-and-forty years old when he was
drowned, and that was four winters before Olaf the Holy fell. Gudrun
took much to heart the death of Thorkell, yet bore her bereavement
bravely. Only very little of the church timber could ever be gathered
in. Gellir was now fourteen years old, and with his mother he took
over the business of the household and the chieftainship. It was soon
seen that he was made to be a leader of men. Gudrun now became a very
religious woman. She was the first woman in Iceland who knew the
Psalter by heart. She would spend long time in the church at nights
saying her prayers, and Herdis, Bolli's daughter, always went with her
at night. Gudrun loved Herdis very much. [Sidenote: The ghost of the
sorceress] It is told that one night the maiden Herdis dreamed that a
woman came to her who was dressed in a woven cloak, and coifed in a
head cloth, but she did not think the woman winning to look at. She
spoke, "Tell your grandmother that I am displeased with her, for she
creeps about over me every night, and lets fall down upon me drops so
hot that I am burning all over from them. My reason for letting you
know this is, that I like you somewhat better, though there is
something uncanny hovering about you too. However, I could get on with
you if I did not feel there was so much more amiss with Gudrun." Then
Herdis awoke and told Gudrun her dream. Gudrun thought the apparition
was of good omen. Next morning Gudrun had planks taken up from the
church floor where she was wont to kneel on the hassock, and she had
the earth dug up, and they found blue and evil-looking bones, a round
brooch, and a wizard's wand, and men thought they knew then that a
tomb of some sorceress must have been there; so the bones were taken
to a place far away where people were least likely to be passing.
CHAP. LXXVII
The Return of Bolli, A.D. 1030
When four winters were passed from the drowning of Thorkell Eyjolfson
a ship came into Islefirth belonging to Bolli Bollison, most of the
crew of which were Norwegians. [Sidenote: Bolli's splendour] Bolli
brought out with him much wealth, and many precious things that lords
abroad had given him. Bolli was so great a man for show when he came
back from this journey that he would wear no clothes but of scarlet
and fur, and all his weapons were bedight with gold: he was called
Bolli the Grand. He made it known to his shipmasters that he was going
west to his own countrysides, and he left his ship and goods in the
hands of his crew. Bolli rode from the ship with twelve men, and all
his followers were dressed in scarlet, and rode on gilt saddles, and
all were they a trusty band, though Bolli was peerless among them. He
had on the clothes of fur which the Garth-king had given him, he had
over all a scarlet cape; and he had Footbiter girt on him, the hilt of
which was dight with gold, and the grip woven with gold; he had a
gilded helmet on his head, and a red shield on his flank, with a
knight painted on it in gold. He had a dagger in his hand, as is the
custom in foreign lands; and whenever they took quarters the women
paid heed to nothing but gazing at Bolli and his grandeur, and that
of his followers. In this state Bolli rode into the western parts all
the way till he came to Holyfell with his following. Gudrun was very
glad to see her son. Bolli did not stay there long till he rode up to
Saelingsdale Tongue to see Snorri, his father-in-law, and his wife
Thordis, and their meeting was exceeding joyful. Snorri asked Bolli to
stay with him with as many of his men as he liked. Bolli accepted the
invitation gratefully, and was with Snorri all the winter, with the
men who had ridden from the north with him. Bolli got great renown
from this journey. [Sidenote: Snorri's death] Snorri made it no less
his business now to treat Bolli with every kindness than death when
he was with him before.
CHAP. LXXVIII
The Death of Snorri, and the End, A.D. 1031
[Sidenote: Snorri' death] When Bolli had been one winter in Iceland
Snorri the Priest fell ill. That illness did not gain quickly on him,
and Snorri lay very long abed. But when the illness gained on him, he
called to himself all his kinsfolk and affinity, and said to Bolli,
"It is my wish that you shall take over the manor here and the
chieftainship after my day, for I grudge honours to you no more than
to my own sons, nor is there within this land now the one of my sons
who I think will be the greatest man among them, Halldor to wit."
Thereupon Snorri breathed his last, being seventy-seven years old.
That was one winter after the fall of St. Olaf, so said Ari the Priest
"Deep-in-lore." Snorri was buried at Tongue. [Sidenote: The
descendants of Herdis] Bolli and Thordis took over the manor of Tongue
as Snorri had willed it, and Snorri's sons put up with it with a good
will. Bolli grew a man of great account, and was much beloved. Herdis,
Bolli's daughter, grew up at Holyfell, and was the goodliest of all
women. Orm, the son of Hermund, the son of Illugi, asked her in
marriage, and she was given in wedlock to him; their son was Kodran,
who had for wife Gudrun, the daughter of Sigmund. The son of Kodran
was Hermund, who had for wife Ulfeid, the daughter of Runolf, who was
the son of Bishop Kelill; their sons were Kelill, who was Abbot of
Holyfell, and Reinn and Kodran and Styrmir; their daughter was
Thorvor, whom Skeggi, Bard's son, had for wife, and from whom is come
the stock of the Shaw-men. Ospak was the name of the son of Bolli and
Thordis. The daughter of Ospak was Gudrun, whom Thorarin, Brand's son,
had to wife. Their son was Brand, who founded the benefice of
Housefell. Gellir, Thorleik's son, took to him a wife, and married
Valgerd, daughter of Thorgils Arison of Reekness. Gellir went abroad,
and took service with King Magnus the Good, and had given him by the
king twelve ounces of gold and many goods besides. The sons of Gellir
were Thorkell and Thorgils, and a son of Thorgils was Ari the
"Deep-in-lore." The son of Ari was named Thorgils, and his son was Ari
the Strong. Now Gudrun began to grow very old, and lived in such
sorrow and grief as has lately been told. She was the first nun and
recluse in Iceland, and by all folk it is said that Gudrun was the
noblest of women of equal birth with her in this land. It is told how
once upon a time Bolli came to Holyfell, for Gudrun was always very
pleased when he came to see her, and how he sat by his mother for a
long time, and they talked of many things. [Sidenote: Bolli questions
his mother] Then Bolli said, "Will you tell me, mother, what I want
very much to know? Who is the man you have loved the most?" Gudrun
answered, "Thorkell was the mightiest man and the greatest chief, but
no man was more shapely or better endowed all round than Bolli. Thord,
son of Ingun, was the wisest of them all, and the greatest lawyer;
Thorvald I take no account of." Then said Bolli, "I clearly understand
that what you tell me shows how each of your husbands was endowed, but
you have not told me yet whom you loved the best. Now there is no need
for you to keep that hidden any longer." Gudrun answered, "You press
me hard, my son, for this, but if I must needs tell it to any one, you
are the one I should first choose thereto." Bolli bade her do so. Then
Gudrun said, "To him I was worst whom I loved best." "Now," answered
Bolli, "I think the whole truth is told," and said she had done well
to tell him what he so much had yearned to know. Gudrun grew to be a
very old woman, and some say she lost her sight. Gudrun died at
Holyfell, and there she rests. [Sidenote: The end of Gellir] Gellir,
Thorkell's son, lived at Holyfell to old age, and many things of much
account are told of him; he also comes into many Sagas, though but
little be told of him here. He built a church at Holyfell, a very
stately one, as Arnor, the Earls' poet, says in the funeral song which
he wrote about Gellir, wherein he uses clear words about that matter.
When Gellir was somewhat sunk into his latter age, he prepared
himself for a journey away from Iceland. He went to Norway, but did
not stay there long, and then left straightway that land and "walked"
south to Rome to "see the holy apostle Peter." He was very long over
this journey; and then journeying from the south he came into Denmark,
and there he fell ill and lay in bed a very long time, and received
all the last rites of the church, whereupon he died, and he rests at
Roskild. Gellir had taken Skofnung with him, the sword that had been
taken out of the barrow of Holy Kraki, and never after could it be got
back. When the death of Gellir was known in Iceland, Thorkell, his
son, took over his father's inheritance at Holyfell. Thorgils, another
of Gellir's sons, was drowned in Broadfirth at an early age, with all
hands on board. Thorkell Gellirson was a most learned man, and was
said to be of all men the best stocked of lore. Here is the end of the
Saga of the men of Salmon-river-Dale.
* * * * *
_The_ 'Laxdale Saga'--_one of the great Sagas of Iceland--is herewith
introduced for the first time to English readers. The translation has
been made by_ Mrs. Muriel Press. _The original text presents many
difficulties, and the manuscript translation has had the advantage of
being revised by a competent Icelander. Many doubtful passages have
been elucidated by him. The accompanying Note gives his interpretation
of the obscure verses on page 234. In addition to these kind services,
he has specially prepared for this volume the Map of the Places
mentioned in the Saga. It is to be hoped that_ Mrs. Press's _efforts
to popularise this famous Saga may be successful, and may warrant the
publication of other Sagas, and Masterpieces of Northern literature,
in the Series, notably_ 'Njala-Saga,' 'Volsunga-Saga,' _and the_
'Eddas.'
I.G.
_October 13, 1899,_
* * * * *
NOTE
These lines may be thus interpreted:--
"Hangs a wet hood on the wall;
It knoweth of a trick;
Though it be at most times 'dry,'
I hide not now it knoweth two."