ORDEAL
One day when the king was sitting in judgment Grettir came before him
and saluted him respectfully. The king looked at him and said:
"Are you Grettir the Strong?"
"So I have been called," he replied, "and I have come here in the hope
of obtaining deliverance from the slanders which are being spread about
me, and to say that I did not do this deed."
The king said: "You are worthy enough; but I know not what fortune you
will have in defending yourself. It is quite possible that you did not
intend to burn the men in the house."
Grettir said that he was most anxious to prove his innocence if the king
would permit him. Then the king bade him relate faithfully all that had
happened. Grettir told him everything exactly as it was, and declared
that they were all alive when he escaped with his fire; he was ready to
undergo any ordeal which the king considered that the law required.
King Olaf said: "I decree that you shall bear iron, if your fate so
wills it."
Grettir was quite content with that, and began his fast for the ordeal.
When the day for the ceremony arrived the king and the bishop went to
the church together with a multitude of people who came out of curiosity
to see a man so much talked about as Grettir. At last Grettir himself
was led to the church. When he entered many looked at him and remarked
that he excelled most men in strength and stature. As he passed down the
aisle there started up a very ill-favoured, overgrown boy and cried to
him:
"Wondrous are now the ways in a land where men should call themselves
Christians, when evil-doers and robbers and thieves walk in peace to
purge themselves. What should a wicked man find better to do than to
preserve his life so long as he may? Here is now a malefactor convicted
of guilt, one who has burnt innocent men in their houses, and yet is
allowed to undergo purgation. Such a thing is most unrighteous."
Then he went at Grettir, pointing at him with his finger, making
grimaces and calling him son of a sea-ogress, with many other bad names.
Then Grettir lost his temper and his self-control. He raised his hand
and gave him a box on the ear so that he fell senseless, and some
thought he was dead. No one seemed to know whence the boy had come nor
what became of him afterwards, but it was generally believed that he was
some unclean spirit sent forth for the destruction of Grettir.
There arose an uproar in the church; people told the king that the man
who had come to purge himself was fighting with those around him. King
Olaf came forward into the church to see what was going on, and said:
"You are a man of ill luck, Grettir. All was prepared for the ordeal,
but it cannot take place now. It is not possible to contend against your
ill-fortune."
Grettir said: "I expected, oh king, more honour from you for the sake of
my family than I now seem likely to obtain."
Then he told again the story as he had done before of what had taken
place with the men. "Gladly," he said, "would I enter your service;
there is many a man with you who is not my better as a warrior."
"I know," said the king, "that few are your equals in strength and
courage, but your luck is too bad for you to remain with me. You have my
leave to depart in peace whithersoever you will for the winter, and then
in the summer you may return to Iceland, where you are destined to lay
your bones."
"First I should like to clear myself of the charge of burning, if I
may," said Grettir; "for I did not do it intentionally."
"Very likely it is so," said the king; "but since the purgation has come
to naught through your impatience you cannot clear yourself further
than you have done. Impetuosity always leads to evil. If ever a man was
doomed to misfortune you are."
After that Grettir remained for a time in the town, but he got nothing
more out of Olaf. Then he went to the South, intending after that to go
East to Tunsberg to find his brother Thorsteinn Dromund. Nothing is told
of his journey till he came to Jadar.