Egil’s Saga Read online

  Then spake Gunnhild: “Give over, Arinbiorn, and talk not so long of this. Much hast thou done well unto King Eric, and he hath to the full rewarded that. There lieth on thee a much greater duty to King Eric than to Egil. This is not to be asked by thee, that Egil should fare unpunished hence from before the face of King Eric, such things as he hath been guilty of”.

  Then saith Arinbiorn, “If thou, King, and Gunnhild have fast resolved on this, that Egil shall here get no peace-making, then is that the manly part to give him truce and safe-conduct for a week’s space, to get him gone; he hath, when all’s said, of his own free will fared hither to see you, and had hope for himself of peace therefor. And then let your dealings together fare even as they must, from thenceforth”.

  Gunnhild spake: “I can see in this, Arinbiorn, that thou art more careful of Egil than of King Eric. If Egil shall ride hence for a week away in peace, then will he be come to King Athelstane by that time. But King Eric needs not now to hide this from himself, that all kings are now become men of greater might and mastery than he. But a short while since would that not have been thought likely, that King Eric should not have the will nor the marrow for this, to avenge his griefs on every man, such-like as Egil is”.

  Arinbiorn saith, “No man would call Eric the greater man, though he should slay one bonder’s son, an outlander, that hath walked into his power. But if he will fain grow great by that, then shall I do this for him, that these tidings shall be thought somewhat worth the telling; because we two, Egil and I, will now hold together, so that at one and the same time must we both be met with. Thou mayst then, King, buy dear the life of Egil, when we be all laid on the field, I and my following. I might have looked for some other thing from you, than that thou wouldst have the will to lay me to earth rather than let me receive the life of one man at mine asking”.

  Then saith the King, “Exceeding great masterfulness layest thou on this, Arinbiorn, to give Egil aid. Loth must I be to do thee scathe, if it must come to this, if thou wilt rather lay down thy life than he were slain. Yet enough and to spare be my causes against Egil, whatsoever I may let do unto him”.

  And when the King had spoken these words, then went Egil before him and began his song, and quoth it high, and had a hearing forthwith:1

  West over sea

  Bear I with me

  God’s wish-strand’s spray;

  Such is my way.

  Launch’d I mine oak

  When the ice broke;

  Loaded I her

  With praise-plunder.

  Guest came I to Prince.

  Of praise-song methinks:

  I bear Odin’s drink

  To England’s brink.

  The great Lord’s ways

  Surely I praise:

  Skald silence prays

  Praise-song to upraise.

  Lord, harken to’t

  (Well beseems that),

  What song I’ve wrought,

  If there’s silence got.

  Most men heard say

  How the King made fray;

  But Odin saw

  Where the slain men lay.

  Wax’d rattle of swords

  With clank of wards;

  Stour wax’d round Lord:

  Lord ranged for’rd.

  Heard was the croon

  Of the iron-storm’s tune:

  Sword-river’s moan,

  Where the spate swirl’d down.

  No jot waver’d

  The web dart-broider’d,

  Where the King’s merry

  Spear-fields serry.

  In bloody shallows

  ’Neath banners wallows

  Seal’s plain, and thunder

  Gives tongue from under.

  On the shore the folk sink

  ’Neath javelins’ clink.

  Loud fame gat

  Eric from that.

  More can I tell ye

  If harken will ye:

  There’s more worth hearing

  Of that war-faring.

  Waxéd wounds

  With war-lords’ stounds:

  Breaking of blades

  ’Gainst blue shield-braids.

  Brands were slashing

  And helms a-flashing:

  Wound-graver goes through—

  (That’s sword-point shows through).

  Fall’n ’fore the slice

  Of the sword-belt’s ice

  Odin’s oaks lay

  In the iron-play.

  ’Twas points’ crash

  And edges’ gnash.

  Loud fame gat

  Eric from that.

  King’s sword wax’d red:

  Ravens gath’réd.

  Spears sought men’s hearts:

  Flew bloody darts.

  Fed night-hags’ horses

  Scots’ scourge on corses:

  Hell’s feet slubber

  The eagles’ supper.

  Flew battle-cranes

  Down carrion lanes:

  Of blood’s no drouth

  In the wound-mew’s mouth.

  Wolf slits wounds:

  Sword-billow sounds,

  Plashing red

  ’Gainst raven’s head.

  Came battle’s lees

  On Gialf’s horses.

  Eric by sea

  Bade wolves feast free.

  The Sword-God wakes

  Our Lady of Sakes,

  And on skerry of Hake’s

  The bulwark breaks.

  Spear-points batter

  And sword-points shatter;

  Bow-strings singing

  Bear arrows winging.

  Bit flying blade there:

  Peace was bewray’d there:

  Elm-bow did strain there:

  Wolf was fain there:

  Folk-shepherd out-fac’d

  Death that lays waste:

  While the yew-bow sang

  To edges’ clang.

  War-lord bent yew:

  The wound-bees flew.

  Eric by sea

  Bade wolves feast free.

  Yet would I fain

  To men make plain

  The hero’s ways

  (I must speed my praise).

  War-lord flings gold,

  And lands doth hold

  The Bird of the North:

  Most praise he’s worth.

  Wrist-glow he breaketh

  Who gem-gifts maketh:

  No niggard’s ways

  Will the ring-breaker praise.

  A hath goodly store

  Of the hawk-strand’s ore:

  Glads folk galore

  With Frodi’s flour.

  Spear-guard he flings

  With seat of rings,

  The sword-game’s haster,

  The strong blood-waster.

  East beyond seas

  The rumour flees,

  Blown big and far,

  Of Eric at war.

  War-lord, hark to’t—

  The song I wrought:

  Good meseems that,

  That I silence gat.

  With speech of my tongue

  From mind’s deeps I’ve wrung

  Odin’s sea,

  War-dighter, for thee.

  King’s leave I bore

  Till silence was o’er.

  Words’ measure I ken

  In the seats of men.

  From the hold of cheer

  Lord’s praise I bear:

  So forth did’t fare

  As that most should hear.

  CHAPTER LXI. OF EGIL’s LIFE GIVEN HIM BY THE KING.

  KING ERIC sat upright while Egil quoth the song, and glared with his eyes upon him. And when the drapa was ended, then spake the King: “On best wise is the song given forth; and now have I bethought me, Arinbiorn, of this matter ’twixt me and Egil, where it shall be come. Thou hast pressed Egil’s suit with great hardihood, when thou didst offer to make thy troubles bite against me. Now shall that be done for thy sake, even that t
hou hast bidden, that Egil shall fare from before my face hale and without harm. But thou, Egil, give heed to’t in thy journeys, that, from that time when thou comest from before my face out of this hall, thou come never into the sight of mine eyes or my sons’ sight, and be never in the way of me nor of my folk. But I give thee now thy head, for this time; for that sake, that thou didst walk into my power, therefore will I do no dastard’s work upon thee. But thou shalt know that for truth, that this is no peace-making with me nor with sons of mine nor any kinsman of ours, them that have will to wreak their rights”.

  Then quoth Egil:1

  I am not loth,

  Though laidly ’tis,

  This helm-crag,

  Prince, t’accept of.

  Where’s he that gat

  From lofty-minded

  All-wielder’s son

  A goodlier gift?

  Arinbiorn thanked the King with fair words for that honour and friendship that the King had done him. Then go they, Arinbiorn and Egil, home to Arinbiorn’s garth.

  And now Arinbiorn let his folk make ready riding-horses. He rode away with Egil, and a hundred men all weaponed along with him. Arinbiorn rode with that host till they came to King Athelstane’s and found there a good welcome. The King bade Egil be with him, and asked what way it had fared betwixt them, him and King Eric.

  Then quoth Egil:2

  Haster of Hugin’s rest-day

  —(High heart of kinsman sav’d there)—

  Gave eyes with their black eyebrows

  For Egil to be fain of.

  So have I right to rule yet

  Right throne of hat of Ali,

  Now like as’t far’d aforetime,

  ’Fore lord of battle-adders.

  But at the parting of Arinbiorn and Egil, then gave Egil to Arinbiorn those two gold rings that King Athelstane gave him, and they stood each at a mark: but Arinbiorn gave Egil that sword that was named Dragvandil. That had been given to Arinbiorn by Thorolf Skallagrimson, but before had Skallagrim received it of Thorolf his brother, but Thorolf was given the sword by Grim Hairycheek, son of Ketil Haeng. That sword had Ketil Haeng owned, and had it in holmgangs, and that was of all swords the best biter.

  They parted with the greatest loving-kindness. Arinbiorn fared home to York, to Eric the King. But Egil’s companions and his shipmates had there good peace, and sold their wares under Arinbiorn’s safe keeping. But when winter wore they flitted themselves south to England, and fared to find Egil.

  CHAPTER LXII. OF EGIL’S FARING TO NORWAY WITH THORSTEIN ERICSON, THE SISTER’S SON OF ARINBIORN THE HERSIR.

  ERIC ALL-WISE was the name of a landed man in Norway; he had to wife Thora, daughter of Thorir the Hersir and sister of Arinbiorn. He owned estates east in the Wick. He was a man exceeding wealthy and the greatest man of account, wise of understanding. Thorstein was named their son; he was at fostering with Arinbiorn and was then much grown, and yet in his youthful age. He had fared west to England with Arinbiorn.

  Now that same autumn that Egil had come to England, there was heard from Norway these tidings: that Eric All-wise was dead, but his heritage had the King’s bailiffs taken, and cast thereon the King’s ban. And when Arinbiorn and Thorstein heard these tidings, then took they that rede, that Thorstein should fare east and look to the heritage. And when spring drew on and men made ready their ships, they that were minded to fare betwixt land and land, then fared Thorstein south to London and fell in there with King Athelstane. He bare forward tokens and word-sending of Arinbiorn to the King (and so, too, to Egil that he might be his upholder with the King), that King Athelstane might send word unto King Hakon his fosterson that Thorstein should get the heritage and estates in Norway. King Athelstane was easy-besought in this, because Arinbiorn was known to him for good. Then came Egil too to talk with King Athelstane and said to him that which he had in mind: “I will this summer”, saith he, “fare east to Norway, to look to that fee which King Eric robbed me of, he and Bergonund. There sitteth now over that fee Atli the Short, Bergonund’s brother. I wot, if word-sending of yours come too, that I shall have the law in this matter”.

  The King saith that Egil shall rule his own journey, “But best ’twould seem to me, that thou wert with me and wert made my land-warder and hadst rule over mine host of war: I will find thee big revenues”.

  Egil saith, “This choice seemeth to me much to be wished for: I will say yea to that, and never nay. Yet must I first fare to Iceland and look to my wife and that fee that I have there”.

  King Athelstane gave Egil a good cheaping-ship and lading therewith: there was aboard of her wheat and honey and much fee beside in other wares. And when Egil made ready his ship for the main sea, then took rede to fare with him Thorstein Ericson that before was spoke of, who afterwards was called Thorason;1 and when they were ready, then sailed they. They parted, King Athelstane and Egil, with the greatest friendship. It sped them well of their journey, Egil and his; they came to Norway in the Wick east and held in with their ship all into Oslofirth (there had Thorstein his dwelling up aland), and so inland all as far as Raumrealm. And when Thorstein came there aland, then brought he up his claim to his father’s heritage with the bailiffs, that had sat them down in his dwelling. Many brought Thorstein aid in this. Meetings were summoned there: Thorstein had there many noble kinsmen: the end of it was that it was left to the King’s ruling, but Thorstein took over the keeping of that fee that his father had owned. Egil fared to winter-lodging with Thorstein, and they twelve in company. There was flitted home thither to Thorstein’s both wheat and honey: there was there that winter great gladness, and Thorstein dwelt like a man of largesse, because there was provision enow for it.

  CHAPTER LXIII. OF EGIL AND KING HAKON ATHELSTANE’S-FOSTERLING.

  KING HAKON Athelstane’s-Fosterling ruled then over Norway, as before was said. The King sate that winter north in Thrandheim. But when winter wore, Thorstein began his journey and Egil with him: they had near thirty men; and when they were ready, fared they first to the Uplands, thence north over Dovrafell to Thrandheim, and came there to meet with Hakon the King. They bare up their errand with the King: Thorstein said clearly forth his suit and brought forward witnesses to back him, that he was owner of all that inheritance that he laid claim to. The King took that suit well: he let Thorstein have his possessions; and therewith was he made landed man of the King’s, even as his father had been.

  Egil went to see King Hakon, and bare before him his errand and therewith the word-sending of King Athelstane and his tokens: Egil claimed that fee which had belonged to Biorn the Franklin, lands and loose goods. He claimed for himself the half of that fee, and for Asgerd his wife: bade forth there witnesses and oaths to back his suit: said, too, that he had borne forward all this before King Eric: let that follow, that he had then not gotten the law because of the might of King Eric and Gunnhild’s egging on. Egil told up all the process of that suit that had before taken place at the Gula-Thing: bade he the King then grant him the law in that suit.

  King Hakon answereth: “So have I heard tell, that Eric my brother will reckon, he and Gunnhild both, that thou, Egil, wilt have cast a stone beyond thy strength1 in your dealings together. I should a thought thou mightest be well content, Egil, if I should take no hand i’ this suit, for all that we two, Eric and I, have not had the luck to see eye to eye together”.

  Egil spake: “Nowise mayest thou, King, be silent over so big matters, seeing that all men here in the land, inland men and outland, must obey your bidding. I have heard that you set laws here in the land and right for every man: now know I that you will let me have them, as other men: methinks I have birth for that and strength of kin here in the land to hold mine own ’gainst Atli the Short. But as for my matter with King Eric there is that to say unto you, that I went to see him and we two parted in such wise that he bade me fare in peace whereso I would. I will bid you, Lord, my following and service. I know that there must be here with you men who will not be thought more warlik
e to see i’ the field than I am. My mind bodes me that. it shall be no long while before your path and King Eric’s shall bear you face to face, if your lives last thereto: wondrous methinks were that if it shall not come to this, that it shall seem to thee that Gunnhild hath reared up many sons”.

  The King saith, “Nowise shalt thou, Egil, go under mine hand. Much greater gaps have you kinsmen hewn in our line than that it should do for thee to make thine abiding-place here in the land. Fare thou out to Iceland, and be there in heritage after thy father. Then will there no harm befall thee from us kinsfolk. But here in the land is this to be looked for all thy days, that our kinsfolk will be the mightiest. But for sake of King Athelstane my fosterfather, then shalt thou have here peace in the land, and have the law and the land’s rights; because I know that King Athelstane hath dear love of thee”.

  Egil thanked the King for his words, and asked this, that the King should find him sure tokens of his to Thord in Aurland and other landed men in Sogn and Hordaland. The King saith that so should it be.

  CHAPTER LXIV. OF EGIL’S COMING TO FRIDGEIR’S, AND OF HIS DEALINGS WITH LJOT THE PALE.

  THORSTEIN and Egil made ready their journey as soon as they had ended their errands: fare they then back on their way, and when they come south over Dovrafell, then saith Egil that he will fare down to Raumsdale and so south by the sound-way: “I will”, saith he, “make an end of mine errands in Sogn and Hordaland, because I will make ready my ship this summer out to Iceland”.

  Thorstein bade him rule his own journey. They part, Thorstein and Egil. Thorstein fared south by the Dales and all the way till he came to his own place: bare he then forward the King’s tokens and word-sending before the bailiffs, that they should let go all that fee which they have taken up and which Thorstein laid claim to.

  Egil fared his own way, and they twelve in company: they came forth into Raumsdale, found them convoy there, and fared now south to Mere. There is nought said of their journey before they came into that isle that is named Hod and fared a-guesting to that farmstead that is named Blindheim:1 that was a worshipful farmstead. There dwelt a landed man that was named Fridgeir: he was young of years: had newly taken his father’s heritage. His mother was named Gyda; she was a sister of Arinbiorn the Hersir, a great lady and a worshipful. She kept house with her son Fridgeir: they had there a household of great largesse. There gat they exceeding good welcome.