Egil’s Saga Page 21

  Arinbiorn had a great Yule-bidding:2 bade to him friends of his and bonders of the neighbourhood. There was there great throng of men and good feast. He gave Egil for a Yule-gift a gown made of silk and much broidered with gold, set all down the front with gold knobs: Arinbiorn had let make that raiment according to the stature of Egil. Arinbiorn gave Egil a full suit of clothes, new-cut, at Yule: they were cut in English cloth of many colours. Arinbiorn gave many kinds of gifts of friendship at Yule to those men who had come to his house, because Arinbiorn was of all men the most open-handed and the most lordly.

  Then wrought Egil a stave:3

  By his own rede the hero

  Robe of silk gold-knobbéd

  Let fetch forth for the poet:

  (Friend better I’ll ne’er get).

  Arinbiorn hath the warding

  Withal—(late shall be born us

  His like, much less a greater)—

  Of a lord’s unpitying might.

  CHAPTER LXVIII. OF EGIL’S CLAIMING OF THE HERITAGE OF LJOT WHOM HE HAD SLAIN, AND HOW ARINBIORN BROUGHT THAT CLAIM BEFORE KING HAKON, AND WITH WHAT ISSUE.

  EGIL gat great ungladness after Yule, so that he quoth never a word.1 And when Arinbiorn found that, then took he to speech with Egil and asked what that betokened, that ungladness which he had. “I will”, saith he, “that thou let me know whether thou beest sick, or beareth somewhat else hither? We may then work some remedy.”

  Egil saith, “Nought have I of ailments, but great concern have I of this, how I shall get that fee which I won, then when I felled Ljot the Pale, north in Mere. ’Tis said to me that the King’s bailiffs have taken up all that fee and cast the King’s ban on it. Now will I fain have thy help over this fee-claiming”.

  Arinbiorn saith, “Nought far deem I that from the law of the land, that thou shouldst have gotten for thine own that fee. And yet methinks now, the fee is come in a fast place: ’tis roomy going in to the King’s garth, but a strait way out. There hath befallen us many hard-sought fee-claims with men of might and mastery, and sat we then in greater trust with the King than now is; ’cause shallow standeth our friendship with King Hakon, though needs must I so do as the word is spoken of old, that ‘Needs must they cherish the oak who will dwell beneath it’”.

  “And yet thither swingeth my mind,” saith Egil: “if we have law of our side, that we should try it. May so he, that the King grant us right here, for ’tis said to me that the King is a righteous man and holdeth well those laws that he setteth here in the land. That is what my mind most telleth me, that I should fare to meet the King and make trial of this suit with him.”

  Arinbiorn saith that he was nought eager for this. “Meseems as if that should be an unhandy coming together, Egil, of thy masterfulness and braving ways, and the King’s frame of mind and his might; because I hold him to be no friend of thine, and thinks he hath cause for it too. Rather will I that we two let this suit fall to the ground, and not bring it up. But if thou wilt have it so, Egil, then rather shall I fare to meet the King with seeking of this suit.”

  Egil saith he oweth him great thanks and beholding for this, and will willingly take this choice. Hakon was then in Rogaland, but whiles in Hordaland. It was no hard matter to seek him out, and that was come about not much after their talk had been. Arinbiorn made ready his journey: it was then given out to men that he was minded for a meeting with the King. Manned he with housecarles of his a twenty-bencher that he had. Egil should be at home: Arinbiorn would not that he should go.

  Fared Arinbiorn soon as he was ready, and it sped him well of his journey. Found he Hakon the King, and gat there a good welcome. And when he had a little while tarried there, bare he up his errand with the King and saith that Egil Skallagrimson is thither come into the land, and thought himself owner of all that fee that had belonged to Ljot the Pale: “So is it said to us, King, that Egil belike hath the law of his side in this; but the fee have your bailiffs taken up, and cast thereon your ban. I will bid this of you, Lord, that Egil may get the law thereof”.

  The King answereth his suit and was slow in taking up the word. “I know not why thou goest with such-like suit in behalf of Egil. Came he upon a time to see me, and I said to him that I would not have his abidings here in the land, for those sakes that be already known to you. Now needs not Egil to heave up such-like claims with me as with Eric my brother. But to thee, Arinbiorn, there is that to say: that thou mayest so long only be here in the land as thou settest not more account by outland men than by me or my words. For I know that thy thoughts stand thitherward where Harald is, Eric’s son,2 fosterson of thine; and that choice is best for thee, to go and find those brethren and be with them; because I greatly misdoubt me that such men as thou will be ill for me to lean on, if that be needful, to try things out betwixt me and the sons of Eric.”

  And when the King took this suit so thwartly, then saw Arinbiorn that it would not do to follow up those suits with him: he made ready then for his journey home. The King was somewhat sulky and unblithe toward Arinbiorn, after he knew his errand. Arinbiorn had then, withal, no frame of mind for it, to make himself meek with the King in these matters. Parted they with things in such case. Fared Arinbiorn home and said unto Egil his errand’s ending: “I will not follow up such suits again with the King”.

  Egil became all frowning with this tale: seemed to himself to have lost great fee there, and nowise rightfully.

  A few days later, that was early one morning, when Arinbiorn was in his chamber (there was there then not many men), then let he call thither Egil, and when he came there, then let Arinbiorn open up a chest and weighed out therefrom four times ten marks of silver, and spake thus: “This fee pay I unto thee, Egil, for those estates that Ljot the Pale had owned. That seemeth to me fair, that thou have this payment from us kinsmen, me and Fridgeir, since thou didst ransom his life from Ljot; and I know that thou didst this for love of me. I am bounden, then, not to let thee be robbed of thy lawful rights in this suit”.

  Egil took the fee, and thanked Arinbiorn. Then was Egil become joyful again.

  CHAPTER LXIX. OF THE HARRYING OF EGIL AND ARINBIORN IN FRISLAND, AND OF THEIR PARTING.

  ARINBIORN was that winter at home at his own place, but afterward in the spring he gave it out that he is minded to fare a-viking. Arinbiorn had good choice of ships: he made ready in the spring three long-ships, and all big. He had three hundred men: housecarles had he on his own ship, and that was exceeding well manned; he had, withal, many bonders’ sons with him. Egil took rede to fare with him: he steered a ship, and there fared with him much of that company that he had had with him from Iceland. But that cheaping-ship that Egil had had from Iceland he let flit east into the Wick. He found there men for her, to fare with his goods.

  But they, Arinbiorn and Egil, held with their long-ships south along the land: and now stood they with their host south to Saxland and harried there that summer and gat them fee. But when it began to be autumn, held they north again and lay off Frisland. Upon a night, when the weather was quiet, they laid their course up into a certain tidal river, where it was ill for harbouring and a great outflow of the tide. There were up aland great flats and a short way to the wood: there were the fields wet, because there had been great rain. There took they rede for going up, and left behind a third of the folk to mind the ships. They went up along the river, betwixt it and the wood: then was there soon in their way a certain thorp, and many bonders dwelt there. The people ran out of the thorp landwards, whereso they might, soon as they were ware of the war-host, but the vikings set on after them. There was then later on another thorp, and a third: the people fled, all that might come off: there was it level land and great flats. Dykes were cut wide about the land, and water stood therein: they had so fenced about their cornlands and meadows, but in some places were big poles set over the dykes. There where a crossing should be, were bridges, and timbers laid over. The landsfolk fled into the forest; but when the vikings were come a long way into the settled parts
, then gathered the Frislanders together in the wood, and when they had over three hundred men then set they forth against the vikings and take rede for a battle with them. There befell then a hard fight, but so it ended that the Frislanders fled, but the vikings drave the flight. The company of the townsfolk drifted wide afield, that which ran away: so did they likewise, who fared after them: then came it so about that of either part few fared in company.

  Egil set on hard then after them, and few men with him, but very many ran away. The Frislanders came there where was a dyke before them, and fared over it: after that, they took away the bridge. Then come Egil and his, at the other side: Egil straightway took and leapt over the dyke: but that was no leap for other men, and withal none had a mind for it. And when the Frislanders saw that, then they set upon him, but he warded himself: then set upon him eleven men, but so ended their dealings betwixt them that he felled them all. After that, Egil shot the bridge over and fared then back again over the dyke. Saw he then that all their folk had turned to the ships: he was then stood near the wood: so now fared Egil along the wood and so to the ships, so as he had choice of the wood if he needed.

  The vikings had had down great war-takings and strand-hewings, and when they came to the ships some hewed the farm-stock, some flitted out their fee to the ships. Some stood higher up in a shield-burg,1 because the Frislanders were come down and had a great host and shot at them: the Frislanders had then a second battle-array. And when Egil came down and he saw what was betided, then ran he at his speediest there where the rabble stood. He had his halberd before him, and took it in two hands, and cast his shield on his back. He laid forth with the halberd, and back sprang all that stood before him, and so was room given him clean through their battle: he set on so, down to his own men: it seemed to them that they had gotten him home from Hell.

  Go they now aboard their ships, and held their course away from land. Sailed they then to Denmark. And when they come to the Limfirth and lay at the Neck,2 then held Arinbiorn a house-thing with his folk and said to men his mind and purpose: “Now will I”, saith he, “seek and find the sons of Eric, with that company that hath a will to follow me. I have now learnt that those brethren be here in Denmark, and keep great followings, and be in summer-time a-harrying, but sit a-winters here in Denmark. Now will I give leave to all men to fare to Norway, them that have a will to that, rather than follow me. That rede seemeth good to me, Egil, that thou turn back to Norway, and seek again at thy soonest out to Iceland, forthwith when we two part.”

  And now men changed ships: betook them to Egil those who would fare back to Norway; but it was by much the greater part of the folk that followed after Arinbiorn.3 They parted, Arinbiorn and Egil, with blitheness and friendship.4 Fared Arinbiorn to find out Eric’s sons, and into the following of Harald Greycloak, his fosterson, and was thereafter with him while they both lived.

  Egil fared north to the Wick, and held his course in up Oslofirth: there was his cheaping-ship waiting, that he had let flit south that spring. Also there was there his wares and his followers, they that had fared with the ship. Thorstein Thorason came to meet Egil and bade him be with him for the winter, and those men whom he would have with him. Egil took that thankfully: let lay up his ships and bring his wares into safe-keeping. But of that folk which followed him some had lodging there, but some fared north into the land, there where they had their homes. Egil fareth to Thorstein’s, and they were there in company ten or twelve. Egil was there for the winter in good welcome.

  CHAPTER LXX. OF THE VERMLAND SCAT, AND HOW KING HAKON WOULD SEND THORSTEIN THORASON TO GET IT IN, OTHER ELSE TO GET HIM GONE OUT OF THE LAND.

  KING HARALD HAIRFAIR had laid under him Vermland in the east. Olaf Tree-shaver had first won Vermland, the father of Halfdan Whiteleg that first was king in Norway of his kinsfolk; and King Harald was come from thence by his forefathers’ line, and all those forefathers had ruled over Vermland and taken scat thereof and set men over it for the land’s guarding. And when King Harald was become old, then ruled over Vermland that Earl who was named Arnvid. It was then (as in many another place far and wide), that the scat was worse paid than then when King Harald was in the lightest run of his age; and so too when the sons of Harald strove for the realm of Norway. There was then little overseeing of the scat-lands, those that lay afar. But then when Hakon sat in peace, then sought he to get again all that realm which Harald his father had had.

  King Hakon had sent men east to Vermland, twelve in company: they had gotten the scat from the Earl; and when they fared back again by Eidwood, then came at them highwaymen1 and slew them all. The same way fared it with other messengers that King Hakon sent east to Vermland, that the men were slain and the fee came not back again. That was then the talk of some men, that Earl Arnvid would set men of his, belike, to slay the King’s men, and to have the fee to bring to the Earl.

  Then sendeth King Hakon yet the third time men: he was then in Thrandheim; and they should fare into the Wick east to find out Thorstein Thorason with these words, that he should fare east to Vermland to fetch home the scat for the hand of the King, but, for his other choice, should Thorstein fare out of the land; because the King had then heard that Arinbiorn, his mother’s brother, was come south to Denmark and was with Eric’s sons: that too, withal, that they had there great followings and were a-harrying in summer-time. It seemed to King Hakon that all they together were no ways to be trusted in, because there was unpeace to be looked for from Eric’s sons if they should have aught of strength for this, to make an uprising against King Hakon. Then did he unto all kinsfolk of Arinbiorn, and unto them of his affinity or friends of his: drave he then many out of the land, or made for them other hard choices. That came about there too, where Thorstein was, that the King made offer unto him, for that sake, of this choice.

  That man who bare this errand, he was a man of all lands: had been long in Denmark and in the Swede-realm: it was known to him there every deal both about the ways and the men: he had fared withal wide about Norway. And when he bare these matters before Thorstein Thorason, then saith Thorstein to Egil, with what errand these men fared, and asked what way he should answer.

  Egil saith: “Clear as day it looketh to me, of this word-sending, that the King will have thee out of the land, even as other kinsmen of Arinbiorn’s; because that call I this for-sending,2 of so worshipful a man as thou art. That is my rede, that thou call to speak with thee the messengers of the King, and I will be by at your talk: see we then what is here a-doing”.

  Thorstein did as he spake: brought them to speech with him. Then said the messengers all the truth of their errand, and the word-sending of the King, that Thorstein should fare on this journey, or be an outlaw for his other choice.

  Then saith Egil: “I see plainly of your errand: if Thorstein will not fare, then must you fare to fetch home the scat”

  The messengers said that he guessed right.

  “Nowise will Thorstein fare on this journey, because he is nought bounden for this, so worshipful a man, to fare on such unseemly journeys. But this will Thorstein do, which he is bounden to, to follow the King,3 inland or outland, if the King’s will it is to ask this. So too, if ye will have some men from hence for this journey, then will that be your due, and all such furtherance for your journey that ye may demand of Thorstein.”

  And now talked the messengers among themselves, and that came to an agreement betwixt them, that they should take this choice, if Egil would fare on that journey. “The King”, said they, “is all ill-willed against him, and it will seem to him our journey is all good if we so bring it about as that he be slain. He may then drive Thorstein out of the land if it likes him.” And now say they to Thorstein that they will be content if Egil fare, and Thorstein sit at home.

  “That shall be, then,” saith Egil, “that I will ransom Thorstein from this journey. Or how many men think ye it needful to have from hence?”

  “We be eight in company,” said they. “We will, that hence fare
four men. Then we are twelve.”

  Egil saith that so should it be. Onund Sjoni and certain of Egil’s following had fared out to the sea to look to their ships and wares besides that they had put into safe keeping that autumn, and they were not come home. That seemed to Egil a great miss, for the King’s men were wild for the journey and would not wait.

  CHAPTER LXXI. OF EGIL’S JOURNEY INTO VERMLAND, AND HIS GUESTING WITH ARMOD BEARD.

  EGIL made him ready for the journey, and three other men his companions. They had horses and sledges, like as the King’s men. Then were there great snows, and all the ways changed. They betake them now to their journey, when they were ready, and drove up aland; and when they made east toward Eid, then was it of a night that there was great fall of snow, so that nought clear was the way to see. Their faring was slow then the day after, because a man was over head and ears in snow, soon as he left the path; and as the day wore, they tarried and baited their horses. That was near a wooded hause.

  Then spake they with Egil: “Now parteth here the ways; but here under the hause dwelleth that bonder who is named Arnald, a friend of ours:1 we companions will fare thither to guesting. But ye shall fare here up to the hause, and then, when ye be come there, will shortly be before you a great farmstead, and there are ye sure of guesting. There dwelleth a very wealthy man that is named Armod Beard. But in the morning betimes we shall meet together and fare the next evening to Eidwood: there dwelleth a good bonder, Thorfinn by name”.