OF KALI AND JON.
AFTER that Kali went from the west in the same ship. They touched at
Agdir, and from there they went to Biörgvin (Bergen). Then he made a
stanza:—
Unpleasantly we have been wading
In the mud a weary five weeks.
Dirt we had indeed in plenty,
While we lay in Grimsby harbour;
But now on the moor of sea-gulls
Ride we o’er the crests of billows,
Gaily as the elk of bowsprits
Eastward ploughs its way to Bergen.
When they came to the town, there was a great number of people from the
north and the south (of Norway), and from foreign lands, who had brought
much merchandise. The crew of the ship went to some public places to
amuse themselves. Kali was a great dandy, and made a great display, as
he was newly arrived from England. He thought a great deal of himself,
and many others thought a great deal of him too, because he was of a
good family, and highly accomplished. In the inn where he sat drinking
there was a man named Jón Pétrsson, the son of Serk, from Sogn. He was
the king’s vassal at the time. His mother was Helga, the daughter of
Hárek, from Setr. Jón was a great dandy too. The dame who kept the inn
where they were drinking was Unn by name, a woman of good repute. Jón
and Kali soon became companions, and parted great friends. Whereupon Jón
went home to his estates, and Kali went to his father, Kol, at Agdir.
Kali stayed frequently with his kinsman Sölmund. Thus some years passed,
in which Kali made trading trips during the summer, and spent the
winters at home or with Sölmund.