Egil’s Saga Read online

  “Here set I up a Scorn-Pole, and turn I this Scorn unto the hand of King Eric and of Queen Gunnhild” (he turned the horse’s head in towards the land). “Turn I this Scorn unto those land-spirits which do these lands inhabit, so that they may all fare on wildered ways, and not one of them reach nor rest in her own home, until they shall have driven King Eric and Gunnhild forth from the land.”

  Therewithal he shot down the pole into a cleft of the rock, and there let it stand. And he turned the head in towards the land, but he scored runes on the pole, and those say all that formular.12

  After that, went Egil ashipboard: they set sail and sailed out into the main sea. Then the breeze began to freshen, and it made stormy weather and a favouring wind. Then gat the ship mightily on her way.

  Then quoth Egil: 13

  Out ’fore the stem the storm-giant,

  Strainer of branches, planeth

  With chops of tempest-chisel

  Chill vast way of keel-deer;

  And swale-robed sallow-fiend,

  Sweeping still without pity

  In gusts o’er swan of Gestil,

  Roars past gunnal and fore-stem.

  And now sailed they into the main sea, and it sped them well of their journey, and they came out of the main sea into Burg-firth. Held he there his ship to harbour, and they bare their stuff aland. Then fared Egil home to Burg, and his sailors found them lodging.

  Skallagrim was become then old and infirm with age. Egil took to him then the management of fee and the care and ward of the household.

  CHAPTER LVIII. OF THE DEATH OF SKALLAGRIM.

  THERE was a man named Thorgeir. He had to wife Thordis, Yngvar’s daughter, the sister of Bera the mother of Egil. Thorgeir dwelt above Alptaness, at Lambistead. He had come out with Yngvar. He was rich and well esteemed of men. The son of her and Thorgeir was Thord, who dwelt at Lambistead after his father in that time when Egil came to Iceland.

  That was then in the autumn, something before winter, that Thord rode in to Burg to see Egil his kinsman, and bade him home to a feast. He had let brew strong beer out there. Egil promised to come, and it was fixed for about a week hence. And when the week was gone, Egil made him ready for his journey, and with him Asgerd, his wife. They were in company ten or twelve.

  And when Egil was ready, then went Skallagrim out with him, and turned to him before Egil went a-horseback, and spake:1 “Slow methinks hast thou been, Egil, in paying over of that fee that King Athelstane sent me. Or what way art thou minded shall be done with that fee?”

  Egil saith, “Art thou now much needy of fee, father? I knew not that. Straightway shall I let thee have silver when I know that thou needest: but I know thou must still have in thy keeping one chest, or twain, full of silver”.

  “So methinks”, saith Skallagrim, “as that thou must think thou and I have shared out our loose goods between us. Thou’lt be content, may be, if I do as I like with that money that I have the keeping of.”

  Egil saith, “Thou wilt think there’s no need to ask leave of me for that; because thou wilt have thine own will whatsoever I say”.

  And now rode Egil away, until he was come to Lambistead. They took to him there well and joyfully: he should sit there three nights.

  That same evening that Egil had fared from home, Skallagrim let saddle him his horse. Rode he then from home, when other men went to bed. He carried at his knee a chest big enow, and he had in the crook of his arm a brazen kettle, when he set forth. Men have since had that for true, that he hath let fare one or both into Krumm’s Well, and let fare down on the top of it a great flat stone.

  Skallagrim came home about the midnight hour and went then to his place, and laid him down in his clothes. But in the morning, when it grew light and men clad themselves, then sat Skallagrim there against the post and was then dead, and so stiffened that men might nowise get him straightened out nor lift him, and ’twas tried all ways with him.

  Then was a man set a-horseback. That one rode his hardest till he was come to Lambistead. Went he straightway unto Egil, and saith unto him these tidings. Then took Egil his weapons and clothes and rode home to Burg in the evening, and soon as he was gotten down from horseback went he in and into the passage which was round about the firehouse; but there were doors opening inwards from the passage to the seats. Egil ga him in to the seat and took Skallagrim by the shoulders and bent him backwards, laid him down in the seat and gave him then lyke-help. Then bade Egil take digging-tools and break open the wall of the south side, and when that was done, then took Egil under the upper part of Skallagrim but others took him by the feet. Bare they him across the house, and so out through the wall there where it had been broke open.2 Bare they him then in that same hour down to Naustaness. There was a tilt rigged over him for the night. But in the morning, at flood-tide, was Skallagrim laid in a ship and rowed out to Digraness. There let Egil make a howe on the outward side of the ness. Therein was laid Skallagrim, and his horse and his weapons and smithy-tools. It is not told that any loose fee was laid in howe beside him.

  Egil took the inheritance there, lands and loose goods. He ruled then over the household.

  There was there with Egil Thordis, the daughter of Thorolf and of Asgerd.

  CHAPTER LIX. OF EGIL’S FARING ABROAD THE THIRD TIME; WITH HOW HE WAS CAST ASHORE IN ENGLAND AND WAS FALLEN INTO THE HAND OF KING ERIC BLOODAXE AND QUEEN GUNNHILD.

  ERIC the King ruled one winter over Norway after the death of his father, King Harald, before Hakon, Athelstane’s-Fosterling,1 another son of King Harald, came to Norway from the west out of England; and that same summer fared Egil Skallagrimson to Iceland.

  Hakon fared north to Thrandheim. He was there taken for King. They were, he and Eric, that winter, both Kings in Norway. But after, in the spring, drew they of either part a war-host together. Hakon had much the greater throng of men. Eric saw then no other choice for him but to flee the land. He fared abroad then with Gunnhild his wife and their children.

  Arinbiorn the Hersir was fosterbrother of Eric the King, and fosterer of his child. He was dearest to the King of all the landed men. The King had set him to be lord over all the Firthfolk. Arinbiorn fared out of the land with the King.

  They fared first west over seas to the Orkneys. Then gave he Ragnhild his daughter to Earl Arnfinn. After that, fared he with his host coasting south by Scotland, and harried there. Thence fared he south to England, and harried there. And when King Athelstane heard that, he summoned forces and fared against Eric. And when they were met, there were borne speeches of peace betwixt them; and that was in the peace-making that King Athelstane gave Eric rule over Northumberland,2 but he should be warden of the land for King Athelstane against the Scots and Irish. King Athelstane had made Scotland pay scat to him after the fall of King Olaf, and yet was that folk ever untrue to him. King Eric had ever his seat and state in York.

  So it is said, that Gunnhild let work a spell, and let that be in the spellworking, that Egil Skallagrimson should never bide in peace in Iceland until she should look upon him.

  Now that summer, when Hakon and Eric had met and striven together for Norway, then was banned all faring to other lands out of Norway, and there came that summer no ships to Iceland and no tidings out of Norway. Egil Skallagrimson sat at his own house. But that second winter that he dwelt at Burg after the death of Skallagrim, then was Egil become unmerry, and so much the more was his ungladness as more the winter drew by. And when summer came, then Egil gave out that he is minded to make ready his ship for faring abroad that summer. He took then sailors. He is minded then to sail to England. They were aboardship thirty men. Asgerd was then left behind and took care of their house, but Egil was minded then to go and see King Athelstane and look to those promises that he had promised Egil at their parting.

  Egil was not early ready, and when he put out into the main sea then were they somewhat late in getting a fair breeze. It began to draw towards autumn, and the wind grew strong. They sailed about Orkney from the nor
th. Egil would nowise put in there, because he deemed that the might of King Eric belike would stand over all in the isles. They sailed then coasting south by Scotland, and had a great storm and cross winds. They beat about off Scotland, and so off England from the north. But of an afternoon when it began to grow mirk, there was a fierce gale. They find nought afore there were shoal breakers on their outer beam, and the like ahead. There was then no other choice, but to stand in towards land; and so did they: sailed then till she was wrecked ashore, and came aland by Humber mouth. There were all the men saved and the most part of the goods, except the ship; that was broken into shivers.

  And when they found men to talk to, they learned these tidings, which Egil thought perilous: that King Eric Bloodaxe was there hard by, and Gunnhild, and they had there the realm to rule over, and he was but a short way thence, up in the burg of York. That learned he too, that Arinbiorn the Hersir was there with the King, and in great loving-kindness with the King.

  And when Egil was sure of these tidings, then took he counsel with himself. It seemed to him there was little hope of coming off, even though he should try this, to fare with hidden head so long, a way as it would likely be before he might come out of the realm of King Eric. He was then easily known to any who might see him. It seemed to him that that was but the fashion of a little man,3 to be took in flight. Hardened he then his heart, and made this his rede, that straight that very night that they were thither come, then getteth he him a horse and rideth straightway to the burg.

  He came there at evening time, and he rode straightway into the burg. And now he had a hood over his helm, and all his weapons had he. Egil asked where might be that garth4 in the burg, that belonged to Arinbiorn. That was told him. He rode thither into the garth. But when he came to the hall, gat he down from his horse and found a man to speak to. It was then said to him that Arinbiorn sat at meat. Egil spake: “I would, good lad, that thou go in, into the hall, and ask Arinbiorn: whether will he rather without-door or within, to talk with Egil Skallagrimson”.

  That man saith, “That is little pains for me, to run this errand”.

  He went in into the hall and spake loud and clear: “A man is come here, out before the doors,” saith he, “great as a troll; and that one bade me go in and ask whether thou wouldst without-door or within, to talk with Egil Skallagrimson”.

  Arinbiorn saith, “Go and bid him bide without, and he will not need to bide long”.

  He did as Arinbiorn spake: went out and said as was spoken unto him. Arinbiorn bade take up the tables. Thereafter went he out and all his housecarles with him. And when Arinbiorn saw Egil he hailed him and asked why was he come thither.

  Egil saith in few words, the plainest he might, of his journey; “And now shalt thou see to it, what rede I shall take, if thou wilt give aught of help to me”.

  “Hast thou met any men in the burg”, saith Arinbiorn, “who will have known thee, before thou camest here into the garth?”

  “Not one,” saith Egil.

  “Take men their weapons, then,” saith Arinbiorn.

  They did so, and when they were weaponed, and all the housecarles of Arinbiorn, then went he into the King’s garth. But when they came to the hall, then clapped Arinbiorn on the door and bade open, and saith who was there. The door-keepers straightway opened the gates.

  The King sate at table. Arinbiorn bade go in then twelve men; named for this Egil and ten men besides: “Now shalt thou, Egil, bring unto King Eric thine head, and take him by the foot, but I will plead thy suit”.

  So now go they in. Arinbiorn went before the King and greeted him. The King welcomed him, and asked what he would. Arinbiorn spake: “I have followed hither that man that is come a long way to seek to you at home and be set at one with you. That is great honour unto you, Lord, when your unfriends fare of their own free will from other lands, and think they cannot bear your wrath, though you be nowhere anigh. Let thyself now be lordly in thy dealings with this man. Let him get of thee good peace-making, for that he hath made thine honour so great as now may be seen: fared over many mains and difficult ways from home from his own dwelling. There was no need bare him on this journey, save only good will to you”.

  Then looked the King about him, and he saw over the heads of men, where Egil stood. And he glared with his eyes upon him, and spake: “Why wast thou so bold, Egil, that thou durst fare to find out me? On such wise last time wentest thou hence, that there was no hope of thy life from me”.

  Then went Egil to the table and took the King by the foot. Quoth he then:5

  Iva’s firth-trampling stallion

  Long surging ways hath borne me

  To seek to him that sitteth

  In sway o’er land of England.

  Now hath the wound-sheen’s shaker

  (Too stout of heart) sought hither,

  Unto the very rope-core

  Of Harald’s hard-spun line.

  King Eric said, “No need have I to tell up the guilts at thine hands, and yet are they so many and so big, that any single one may well be sufficient that thou come never from hence with life. Thou hast no other thing to hope for, but that here thou shalt surely die. Thou mightest have known that before, that thou wouldst get no peace-making from me”.

  Then quoth Egil:*

  Gunnhild spake: “Why shall’s not straightway slay Egil? Or mindest thou not now, King, what Egil hath done? slain friends of thine and kinsmen, and more than that, thy son; and scorned thine own self? Or where did ever men wot of such doings to a King-man?”

  Arinbiorn saith: “If Egil hath spoke ill against the King, then may he boot that by words of praise, such as may stand up for all ages”.

  Gunnhild spake: “We will not harken to his praise. Let thou, King, lead Egil out and hew him. I will not harken to his words, and not look upon him”.

  Then spake Arinbiorn: “The King will not let himself be egged on to all thy dastard’s work. He will not let slay Egil at night, because night-slayings are murthers”.6

  The King saith, “So shall it be, Arinbiorn, as thou biddest, that Egil shall live this night. Have thou him home with thee, and bring me him in the morning”.

  Arinbiorn thanked the King for his words: “We hope, Lord, that from this belike will Egil’s matter be settled a better way. And albeit Egil hath in great matters made himself guilty in your sight, yet look you at that, that he hath had mighty losses through your kindred. King Harald thy father took the life of a famous man, Thorolf, his father’s brother, because of the slander of wicked men, but for no cause. And you, King, did break the law for Egil for the sake of Bergonund; yea, and more than that, you would have had Egil a dead man, and did slay men of his, and robbed him of all his fee, and more than that, you did make him outlaw and drive him from the land; and Egil is not a man to be mocked and teased.7 But in every matter that a man must judge, needs must he look to what beareth on it. I will now”, saith Arinbiorn, “have Egil with me for the night at home in my garth”.

  So it was now. And when they came into the garth, then go those two into a certain little loft and talk over this matter. Saith Arinbiorn as thus: “All wrathful was the King now; and yet methought rather his frame of mind was softened somewhat, before the end. And now will luck settle it, what must come of it. I know that Gunnhild will set all her mind to it, to spill thy matter for thee. Now will I give thee this rede, that thou wake this night and work a praise-song upon King Eric: methinks that were well, if that were to be a drapa of twenty staves, and thou mightst say it forth in the morning, when we two come before the King. So did Bragi,8 of my kindred, when he stood before the wrath of Biorn the Swede-King, that he wrought a drapa of twenty staves upon him in one night and received therefor his head. Now might it be that we might bear luck here with the King, so that that should bring thee into peace with the King”.

  Egil saith, “I shall try this rede, since ’tis thy will. But this have I never prepared me for, to work a praise upon King Eric”.

  Arinbiorn bade hi
m try. And now he went away to his own men. Sat they a-drinking until middle night. Then went Arinbiorn to the sleeping-house and his following, and before he did off his clothes, went he up into the loft to Egil and asked him how it sped of the song.

  Egil saith that he had gotten nothing wrought: “Hath here sat a swallow by the window and twittered all the night, so that I have never bided in peace for it”.

  With that, went Arinbiorn away and out by those doors where a man might go up onto the house, and sat him down by that window in the loft that the fowl had before sat by. He saw where some shape-changer9 fared the other way from the house. Arinbiorn sat there by the window all night until it dawned. And after Arinbiorn had come there, then wrought Egil all the drapa, and had so gotten it by heart that he might say it forth in the morning when he met Arinbiorn.

  They held themselves in readiness against the time should come for them to meet the King.

  * This stave is lost. E.R.E.

  CHAPTER LX. HOW EGIL QUOTH HIS DRAPA THAT IS NAMED HEAD-RANSOM IN KING ERIC’S HALL IN YORK.

  KING ERIC went to table according to his wont, and there was then great throng of men with him. And when Arinbiorn was ware of that, then went he with all his following all weaponed into the King’s garth then when the King sate at table. Arinbiorn craved leave to go into the hall: that, too, was allowed him as of right. They go in, he and Egil, and the half of their following: the other half stood without before the doors.

  Arinbiorn greeted the King, and the King gave him good welcome. Arinbiorn spake: “Now is here come Egil. He hath not sought to run away in the night. Now will we know, Lord, what his lot shall be. I hope for good from you. That have I done (as worthy was) that I have spared nothing for this, so to do and to speak as that your honour might so be greater than afore. I have left, too, all my possessions and kinsfolk and friends that I had in Norway, and followed you, but all your landed men fell off from you. And that is right and seemly, seeing that thou hast in many a thing done unto me exceeding well”.