Egil’s Saga Page 25
When lord we find. Targe bear we
Aboard of Endil’s snow-shoe.
The Earl would not that Einar should fare away, and listened then to the song, and thereafter gave he Einar a shield, and it was the greatest treasure: it was drawn upon with tales of old,22 but all between the drawings were spangles of gold laid over it, and set with stones.
Einar fared to Iceland and to lodging with Osvif his brother; but in the autumn rode Einar from the west and came to Burg and guested there. Egil was then not at home, for he was fared north into the countryside, but he was looked for home again. Einar waited for him three nights, but that was not the custom to sit longer than three nights at a friend’s. Einar made him ready then to be gone, and when he was ready then went he to Egil’s bed and hung up there the shield, that precious one, and said to the homemen that he gave Egil the shield. So now rode Einar away, but that same day came Egil home. But when he came in to his bed, then saw he the shield, and asked who owned that treasure. It was said to him that Ėinar Jingle-scale had come there, and he had given him the shield.
Then spake Egil: “Of all men, curse him for his gift! Is he minded that I shall wake there over it and work songs upon his shield? Now fetch my horse. I shall ride after him and slay him!”23
It was then said to him that Einar had ridden early in the morning, “He will now be come west to the Dales”.
After that Egil wrought a drapa, and this is the beginning thereof:24
Time ’tis the lauds to ’lumine
Of glitt’ring fence I’ve gotten
Of ships: (home to mine hand came
Greeting of treasure-sender).
Mishandled (my words hear ye)
Of me shall ne’er the reins be
Of stallion of Gylfi’s land
That ’longeth to the earth-born.
Egil and Einar held to their friendship so long as they both lived. But so, it is said, fared it with the shield at last, that Egil had it with him in that bridal-journey, when he fared north to Withymire with Thorkel Gunnvaldson, he and those sons of Red-Biorn, Trefil and Helgi. Then was the shield spoilt, and cast into the whey-vat;25 but thereafter Egil let take off the mountings, and there were twelve ounces of gold in the spangles.
CHAPTER LXXIX. OF THORSTEIN EGILSON, AND OF THE DEATH OF ASGERD, EGIL’S WIFE, AND HOW EGIL SHIFTED HOUSE FROM BURG TO MOSSFELL.
THORSTEIN the son of Egil, then when he was waxen up, was of all men the fairest to look upon, white of hair and bright of aspect. He was big and strong, and yet not to compare with his father. Thorstein was a wise man and of gentle ways, even-minded and the best-tempered of men. Egil loved him little.1 Thorstein too was nothing warm-hearted towards him; but Asgerd and Thorstein loved each other greatly.
Egil was then becoming very old. That was of a certain summer, that Thorstein rode to the Althing, but Egil sat then at home. But before Thorstein should fare from home, he and Asgerd watched their time and took out of a chest of Egil’s that silken gown, Arinbiorn’s loom, and Thorstein had it to the Thing. And when he had it at the Thing, then was it too long and trailed behind him and became filthy underneath, then when they were a-going to the Hill of Laws.2 And when he came home, then Asgerd put away the gown, there where it was before; but a long while later, when Egil opened his chest, then found he that the gown was spoilt, and looked into the matter with Asgerd, how that might have come about. She said then the truth of it.
Then quoth Egil:3
No heir have I to inherit
Mine heritage, as need were:
Living, a son hath cheated me;
Cheating, forsooth, I call that.
Well might the water-horse’s
Bestrider yet have bided
Till they that own the sea-sleighs
The stones have pil’d above me.
Thorstein gat to wife Jofrid, daughter of Gunnar Hlifarson:4 her mother was Helga, daughter of Olaf Feilan,5 and sister of Thord the Yeller.6 Jofrid had Thorodd had to wife aforetime, the son of Odd-a-Tongue.7
A little after this died Asgerd. After that, Egil broke up his household and put it in the hand of Thorstein; but Egil fared then south to Mossfell to Grim, his son-in-law, because he loved most Thordis his stepdaughter of those folk that then were alive.8
That was one summer, that a ship came out into Leiruwick, and that man steered her who was named Thormod: he was a Northman and a housecarle of Thorstein Thorason’s. He had along with him a shield that Thorstein had sent to Egil Skalla-grimson, and that was a noble treasure. Thormod brought Egil the shield, and he took it thankfully. Afterwards in the winter wrought Egil a drapa on the gift of the shield, that is called Targe-Drapa,9 and this is the beginning thereof:10
King’s thane, lithe and listen
To my lofty force of the altar’s
Falling-tresséd Friend (let
Thy folk give heed to silence).
Oft shall be heard through Hordland
Mine harvest good of eagle’s
Chaps,......a-stirring,
O steerer of the Raven.
Thorstein Egilson dwelt at Burg. He had two sons gotten out of wedlock, Hrifla and Hrafn, but since he was married he and Jofrid had ten children; Helga the Fair11 was their daughter, whom they strove for, Skald-Hrafn and Gunnlaug the Worm-tongue. Grim was the eldest of their sons; another Skuli; the third Thorgeir, the fourth Kollsvein, the fifth Hiorleif, the sixth Halli, the seventh Egil, the eighth Thord. Thora was named a daughter of theirs that Thormod Kleppiarnson had to wife. From the children of Thorstein is come a great line of kindred and a mort of great men: that is called the Myresmen’s kindred, all that which is come from Skallagrim.
CHAPTER LXXX. OF STEINAR, THE SON OF ONUND SJONI, AND HIS HIGH-HANDED DEALINGS WITH THORSTEIN EGILSON.
ONUND SJONI dwelt at Anisbrent then when Egil dwelt at Burg. Onund Sjoni had to wife Thorgerd, daughter of Biorn the Thick from Snaefellstrand.1 The children of her and Onund were Steinar and Dalla, whom Ogmund Galtison had to wife (their sons, Thorgils and Kormak2). And when Onund became old and his eyesight little good, then handed he over his household: Steinar took it then, his son. That father and son had a wealth of fee.
Steinar was of all men the biggest, and mighty of strength; an ugly man, crooked of growth, long-legged and short of body; Steinar was a very quarrelsome man and a headstrong, ill to deal with and hard to take hold of, and the most masterful of men. And when Thorstein Egilson dwelt at Burg, then came about straightway a coldness betwixt him and Steinar.
South of Hafslech lieth a marsh that is named Stacksmire: there standeth water over it in winter-time, but in the spring when the ice is loosed then is there grazing there so good for beasts that it was called equal with a stack of home-mead hay. Hafslech made the landmarks there in old days; but in spring went Steinar’s beasts much upon Stacksmire when they were driven out towards Hafslech, and Thorstein’s housecarles grumbled at it. Steinar gave no heed to it; and so fared it through the first summer that nought befell to tell of.
But the second spring Steinar held on with the grazing; but Thorstein betook him then to a talk with him, and talked yet quietly; he bade Steinar hold the grazing of his farm cattle even as in old times it had been. Steinar saith that the cattle would go where it liked;3 he talked of it all somewhat stiffly, and he and Thorstein had some bandying of words.
And now Thorstein let chase the beasts out into the marshes over Hafslech. And when Steinar was ware of that, then set he Grani, a thrall of his, to sit over the beasts on Stacksmire, and he sat there every day. This was in the latter part of summer; there were grazed bare then all the ings4 of the south side of Hafslech.
Now that was one day that Thorstein had walked up to Burg to look about: he saw where Steinar’s beasts fared. He walked out to the marsh (that was late in the day): he saw that the beasts were then come a long way out into the bays of fen between the hillocks. Thorstein ran out along the marsh, and when Grani saw that, then drave he the beasts without stint or stay till they cam
e to the milking-shed. Thorstein came then after him, and they met, he and Grani, in the wall-gate. Thorstein slew him there. That is named since Grani’s-gate: that is in the wall of the home-mead.5 Thorstein kicked the wall down on the top of Grani, and covered so his corpse.
And now fared Thorstein home to Burg. But those women that fared to the milking-shed found Grani there where he lay. After that, fared they home to the house and said unto Steinar these tidings. Steinar buried him up in the holts, but thereafter set Steinar another thrall to follow the beasts, and that one is not named. Thorstein made then as if he knew nought about the grazing, for that which was left of the summer.
That befell to tell of, that Steinar fared in the first spell of winter out to Snaefellstrand, and tarried there awhile. Steinar saw then a thrall that was named Thrand: he was of all men the biggest and strongest. Steinar bargained for that thrall, and bade for him a great price; but he that owned the thrall valued him at three marks of silver, and valued him twice as dear as a common thrall, and that was their bargain. He had Thrand home with him. And when they came home, then talked Steinar with Thrand: “Now is it come to this, that I will have work of thee. Here hath division been made already of all pieces of work. Now will I lay down a piece of work for thee that thou wilt find little toil in. Thou shalt sit over my beasts. On that set I much account, that there be good holding of them to pasture: I will that thou follow no man’s judgement save thine own, where the pasture is best in the marshes. Nought know I of the looks of a man, if thou have not the heart and the might for this, to hold thine own with any one of Thorstein’s housecarles”.
Steinar put into Thrand’s hands a great axe, near an ell across the mouth, and it was edged like a hair. “So it looketh to me of thee, Thrand,” saith Steinar,” as if ’twill not be clear how much thou valuest Thorstein’s priesthood, if you two look one another in the eye.”
Thrand answereth: “I am nought beholden methinks to Thorstein, but it seems to me I understand what kind of work thou hast laid down for me. Thou wilt think thou hast little at stake where I am;6 and methinks ’tis a good choice for me, come up what may, if we two, I and Thorstein, must try it out betwixt us”.
And now took Thrand to minding of the beasts. He had understood, albeit he had not been there long, what way Steinar had let hold his beasts to pasture, and Thrand sat over the beasts on Stacksmire. And when Thorstein was ware of this, then sent he a housecarle of his to find out Thrand and bade tell him of the landmarks betwixt his land and Steinar’s. And when the housecarle met Thrand, then said he to him his errand and bade him hold the beasts another way: said that that was the land of Thorstein Egilson, that the beasts were then come into.
Thrand saith: “That reck I not a jot, which of them owneth the land. I will have the beasts there where it seemeth to me is the pasture best”.
So now part they. Fared the housecarle home, and saith to Thorstein the answer of the thrall. Thorstein let that rest. But Thrand took to sitting over the beasts night and day.
CHAPTER LXXXI. OF THE SLAYING OF THRAND, AND OF THE SUIT AT LAW BETWIXT STEINAR AND THORSTEIN.
THORSTEIN stood up one morning with the sun, and walked up to the Burg. He saw where Steinar’s beasts were. And now walked Thorstein out upon the marshes until he came to the beasts. There standeth a wooded rock beside Hafslech, and up on the rock slept Thrand, and had loosed and done off his shoes. Thorstein walked up to the rock, and had an axe in his hand, not big, and no weapons more. Thorstein prodded Thrand with the axe-shaft, and bade him wake. He sprang up swift and hard and grabbed his axe with two hands and swung it up. He asked what Thorstein would.
He saith, “I will say to thee that I own this land, but you own the grazing-pastures of the outer side of the brook. That is not to be wondered at though thou know not the landmarks here”.
Thrand saith: “Nought seemeth it to me to matter, who owneth the land. I will let the beasts be there where it seemeth to them best”.
“That is likelier”, saith Thorstein, “that I will now have a mind to rule mine own land, rather than shall Steinar’s thralls.”
Thrand saith: “Much art thou, Thorstein, an unwiser man than I deemed, if thou wilt have night-quarters under my axe1 and make hazard against this of thy nobility. ’Tis clear, as I reckon, that I will have strength belike for two of thee; and I lack not heart. I am, besides, weaponed better than thou”.
Thorstein spake: “On that hazard will I lie, if thou do nought about the grazing. I have hope there may be great unlikeness in good luck2 betwixt us two, even as the matter of our causes is unequal
Thrand saith: “Now shalt thou see, Thorstein, whether I am any whit afraid of thy threats”.
And now Thrand sitteth him down and tied his shoe; but Thorstein swung up the axe hard and hewed at the neck of Thrand, so that his head fell on his chest. Therewithal bare Thorstein stones to him and covered his corpse: walked thereafter home to Burg.
But that day came late home Steinar’s beasts; and when all hope was given up of their coming, then took Steinar his horse and laid saddle on it. He had all his weapons. He rode south to Burg, and when he came there he met men to speak to. He asked where Thorstein was: it was said to him that he sat within-door. Then bade Steinar that Thorstein should come out: said he had an errand with him. And when Thorstein heard that, he took his weapons and went out into the doorway. And now asked he of Steinar what errand his might be.
“Hast thou slain Thrand, my thrall?” saith Steinar.3
“So it is truly,” saith Thorstein. “Thou’st no need to turn thy thoughts towards other men for that.”
“Then see I, that thou wilt seem to thyself a hard-handed warder of thy land, sith thou’st slain two thralls of mine: but to me that seemeth nought so mighty a piece of work. Now will I give thee a much better choice in this, if thou wilt with valiancy ward thy land, and there shall be no more relying on other men to drive the beasts; but this shalt thou know, that the beasts shall both day and night be upon thy land.”
“So it is”, saith Thorstein, “that I slew last summer a thrall of thine, him which thou didst set to graze the beasts on my land, and thereafter I let you have grazing as you would, all through till winter. Now have I slain another of thy thralls for thee: laid I on this one the same guilt as on the first. Now shalt thou have grazing from henceforth this summer, as thou wilt; but next summer if thou graze my land and set men to drive hither thy cattle, then will I yet slay for thee one man or another, him that followeth the cattle, yea, though thou thyself shouldst follow them. I will so do every summer, so long as thou holdest to this habit thou’st taken to in the grazing.”
Therewith rode Steinar away and home to Brent; and a little later rode Steinar up into Staffholt: there dwelt then Einar,4 he was a priesthood’s-man. Steinar asked his aid and bade him fee therefor. Einar saith: “It will little avail thee of my help, unless more men of worth back this suit”.
After that rode Steinar up into Reekdale5 to find out Odd-a-Tongue, and asked his aid and bade him fee therefor. Odd took the fee and promised his help, that he should strengthen Steinar to bring the law into force against Thorstein. Steinar therewithal rode home.
But in the spring fared they, Odd and Einar, with Steinar a-summoning, and had great throng of men. Steinar summoned Thorstein for the thrall-slayings, and let the penalty be the lesser outlawry for either slaying; because that was the law where a man’s thralls were slain for him if so be that the thrall-gild for them was not brought before the third sun.6 And it should be rated equal, two lesser outlawries and one full outlawry.
Thorstein summoned him for no guilts in return; and a little later sent Thorstein men south to the Nesses.7 Came they to Mossfell, to Grim’s, and said there these tidings. Egil made as if he took small account of it, and yet quietly asked carefully about their dealings, Thorstein’s and Steinar’s, and so too about those men that had strengthened Steinar in this suit. And now fared the messengers home, and Thorstein deemed well of their journey.
Thorstein Egilson made great throng of men for the Spring-Thing, and came there a night before other men, and tilted their booths and his thingmen did the like, that there had booths. And when they had made things ready, then Thorstein let the company of his thingmen go to it and they made there great booth-walls; and now let he tilt a booth much greater than the other booths that were there. In that booth were no men.
Steinar rode to the Thing, and made great throng of men. There had Odd-a-Tongue rule over the company, and was all thronged about with men. Einar of Staffholt was likewise thronged about with men. They tilted their booths. The Thing was thronged with men. Men brought forward their suits. Thorstein bade no atonements for his behalf, but answered thus to those men who sought to bring about an atonement, that he was minded to let it abide judgement: said that it seemed to him the suits were little worth, those that Steinar fared withal touching the slaying of his thralls, but accounted Steinar’s thralls to have wrought guilts enough for their slaying. Steinar bare himself big over his suits. It seemed to him his causes were lawful, and the strength to aid him enough to bring the law into force. Therefore was he eager in his suits.
That day went men to the thing-brent, and men spake forth their suits; but at evening should the courts fare out for the pleadings. Thorstein was there with his band. He had most rule there over the ordering of the Thing, because so had it been while Egil bare the priesthood and the oversight of men. They had of either party all their weapons. Men saw from the Thing that a band of men rode from beneath along Gorgewater, and there blinked there shields withal. And when they rode to the Thing, then rode there a man before them in a blue cape: had a helm on his head red with gold, and a shield at his side gold-bedight; in his hand a barbed spear: there was gold inlaid on the socket: he was girt with a sword. There was come Egil Skalla-grimson with eighty men, all well weaponed, as if ready for battle. That host was well picked. Egil had had with him the best bonders’ sons from the Nesses southaway, them that he thought most like fighters. Egil rode with his band to that booth which Thorstein had let tilt and before was empty. Lighted they off their horses. And when Thorstein knew the faring of his father, then went he to meet him with all his band, and welcomed him kindly. Egil and his folk let bear in their faring-gear into the booth, and drive the horses to pasture. And when that business was done, went Egil and Thorstein with all the band up to the thing-brent, and sate them there where they were wont to sit.