Egil’s Saga Read online

  And now stood Egil up and spake8 on high: “Whether is Onund Sjoni here on the thing-brent?”

  Onund said there he was: “I am right joyful, Egil, that thou art come. That will turn all to the better that which here standeth betwixt the suits of men”.

  “Whether is that by thy redes that Steinar thy son bringeth charges against Thorstein my son, and hath drawn together throng of men for this sake, to make Thorstein an outlawed man?”

  “The cause is nowise in me”, saith Onund, “that they be at ill accord. I have laid many words thereto and bade Steinar be set at one with Thorstein; because it hath been my wish at every turn to spare thy son Thorstein from dishonour, and the cause thereof is that old dear loving friendship that hath been betwixt us two, Egil, since we were bred up in the same garth.”

  “Shortly will that”, saith Egil, “be made plain whether thou speakest this in sadness9 or in vain falsehood, though that is the last thing I am minded to think. I mind me of those days when to either of us two it would have seemed unlikely, that we two should bring charges one against other, or not make our sons be quiet that they fare not with such foolery as I hear is here like to come about. That rede showeth good to me, whiles we two be alive and stood so near by to their strife, that we two take these suits under us and set them in order, and not suffer Odd-a-Tongue and Einar to set our sons a-biting each at other like fighting-horses:10 let them have somewhat else from henceforth to make money by rather than take to such-like things.”

  Then stood Onund up and spake: “Right sayest thou, Egil, and that is ill-befallen unto us two, to be at that Thing where our sons strive together. And never shall that shame take hold upon us two, to be so empty of lordliness as that we set them not at one. Now will I, Steinar, that thou hand over unto me these suits and let me fare with them even as it likes me”.

  “I know not that,” saith Steinar, “whether I will so cast down my suits, seeing that I have already sought me help from great men. I will now that my suits have such ending only as it shall like well Odd and Einar.”

  And now talked they, Odd and Steinar, between themselves; said Odd as thus: “I will perform, Steinar, my bringing of help unto thee, even that which I promised, to get thee the law, or that ending of thy suits which thou wilt be willing to take upon thine hands. Thou wilt have most to answer for it, what is to become of thy suits, if Egil shall judge thereon”.

  Then spake Onund: “Nought need I to have these things from under the tongue-roots of Odd.11 I have had from him neither good nor ill, but Egil hath done me many great good turns. Trust I in him much better than in others, yea and I shall rule in this: that will best behove thee, not to have all of us in thy teeth.12 I have ere now had the ruling here for us two, and even so shall it be”.

  “Headstrong art thou in this matter, father; and oft, I am minded, shall we two repent us of this.”

  Therewith Steinar handed over to Onund the suit, and he should then pursue or settle it, so as the laws allowed. And straightway when Onund had the ruling in these suits, then went he to find out that father and son, Thorstein and Egil.

  Then spake Onund: “Now will I, Egil, that thou alone shape and shear in these suits, even as thou wilt, seeing that I trust in thee best to set in order these suits of mine and all others”.

  And now took they hands together, Onund and Thorstein, and named them witnesses and that with the witness-naming, that Egil Skallagrimson should alone deal with these suits even as he will, and all unchallenged there at the Thing; and so these suits ended. Went men so home to their booths. Thorstein let lead to Egil’s booth three oxen, and let hew them for his thing-victualling.

  And when Odd-a-Tongue and Steinar came home to their booth, then spake Odd: “Now hast thou, Steinar, thou and thy father, had your way as to how your suits should end. Now count I myself loosed from my bond with thee, Steinar, touching that bringing of help which I promised thee; because so was it spoken betwixt us, that I should avail thee so far as that thou shouldst win thy suits, or bring them to that ending which pleased thee, howsoever shall seem to thee the award of Egil”.

  Steinar saith that Odd hath done well to him and manly, and their friendship shall now be much better than before: “I will call it that thou art loosed from thy bond with me touching that wherein thou wast bound”.

  About evening fared the courts out,13 and it is not said that aught befell there to tell of.

  CHAPTER LXXXII. OF EGIL’S AWARD IN THE SUITS BETWEEN STEINAR AND THORSTEIN.

  EGIL SKALLAGRIMSON walked upon the thing-brent the day after, and with him Thorstein and all their band. There came then also Onund and Steinar: Odd-a-Tongue was also come there, and Einar and their folk. And when men had there spoken their law-business, then stood up Egli and spake as thus: “Whether are those father and son here, Onund and Steinar, so that they may understand my speech?” Onund saith that they were there.

  “Then will I open up mine award1 betwixt Steinar and Thorstein. Take I up the matter there, when Grim, my father, came hither to the land and took here all the lands about the Myres and wide about the neighbourhood, and took to him homestead at Burg and appointed thereto demesnes, but gave, over and above this, choice of land unto his friends, so as they settled there since. He gave Ani homestead at Anisbrent, there where Onund and Steinar have hitherto dwelt. That know we all, Steinar, where the landmarks be betwixt Burg and Anisbrent, that there maketh Hafslech the boundary. Now that was not unwittingly, Steinar, that thou didst in grazing of Thorstein’s land, and didst lay under thee his estate, and wast minded that he would be so great a shamer of his line as that he would be willingly thy robbing-prey (because thou, Steinar, thou and Onund, may know that, that Ani received land from Grim, my father); but Thorstein slew for thee two thralls. Now is that clear as day to all men, that they have fallen by their own act, and they are men not to be booted: yea more, though they had been free men, then would they yet have been men not to be booted. But because of that, Steinar, that thou bethoughtest thee that thou mightest rob Thorstein, my son, of his land-holding, that which he took with my rede and that I took in heritage after my father, therefore shalt thou lose thine own land at Anisbrent and have no fee therefor. That too shall follow, that thou shalt not have homestead neither lodging here in the neighbourhood south of Longwater, and be gone from Anisbrent before the faring-days be passed, but fall unhallowed before all those men who will give aid to Thorstein, forthwith after the faring-days, if thou wilt not fare away or in any jot not hold to that which I have laid down for thee.”

  But when Egil sate him down, then named Thorstein witnesses of his award.

  Then spake Onund Sjoni: “That will be the talk of men, Egil, that that award which thou hast made and spoken forth, is something askew.2 Now is that to be said of me, that I have laid out mine whole self to bar these troubles; but from henceforth shall I spare nought that I have the might to do for the hurting of Thorstein

  “The rather am I minded”, saith Egil, “that the lot of you two, father and son, will aye be the worse the longer we stand at strife together. I thought, Onund, that thou wouldst know that, that I have held my ground before such-like kind of men as ye two be, father and son. But Odd and Einar, that have dragged themselves so much into this case, have hereof gotten the honour they deserved.”3

  CHAPTER LXXXIII. HOW STEINAR SAT FOR THORSTEIN EGILSON BESIDE EINKUNNIR.

  THORGEIR BLUND was there at the Thing, sister’s son to Egil, and had done Thorstein great help in these suits. He bade that father and son give him somewhat of land out there on the Myres; he dwelt before to the south of Whitewater below Blundswater. Egil took that well, and urged Thorstein that he should let him fare thither. They set Thorgeir down at Anisbrent; but Steinar moved his homestead out over Longwater and sat him down at Leirulech. But Egil rode home south to the Nesses, and that father and son parted with blitheness.

  That man was with Thorstein who was named Iri, than any man else swifter-footed and of all men the keenest of sight.
He was an outlander,1 and a freedman of Thorstein’s, and yet had he the minding of cattle, and that most, to gather the barren sheep up to the fell in the spring-time and in autumn down to the folds. But now, after the faring days, Thorstein let gather those barren sheep that had been left behind that spring, and was minded to let drive that to the fell. Iri was then at the sheep-folds, but Thorstein and his housecarles rode up to the fell, and they were eight in company. Thorstein let make a fence across Grisartongue between Longwater and Gorgewater: he let many men be at that work in the spring. And when Thorstein had looked over the work of his housecarles, then rode he home; and when he came over against the thing-stead, then came Iri running to meet them, and said that he will speak with Thorstein apart. Thorstein spake that his companions should ride on, whiles they talked.

  Iri saith to Thorstein that he had fared up to Einkunnir that day and seen to the sheep; “But I saw”, saith he, “in the wood above the winter-road2 that there shone twelve spears and certain shields”.

  Thorstein saith aloud, so that his companions heard it plain so: “Why must he3 be so set on meeting me that I may not ride my ways home? And yet will Olvald think it unfair, that I should deny him speech with me if he is sick”.

  Iri ran then the hardest he might, up the fell. Thorstein saith to his companions: “Lengthened methinks now must be our way, if we shall first ride south to Olvaldstead. Olvald sent me word that I should go see him. And yet it will seem to him no great return for the ox that he gave me last autumn, that I should meet him, if it seemeth to him the matter presseth”.

  And now rode Thorstein and his men south along the marshes below Stangarholt and so south to Gufa and down along the river by the riding-roads. And when he came down from Vatn, then saw they south of the river many beasts and a man near them; there was a housecarle of Olvald’s. Thorstein asked whether all was well there. He said that there was all right well, and Olvald was in the wood a-hewing trees.

  “Then shalt thou”, saith Thorstein, “say to him, if he hath with me an errand of moment, that he may come to Burg; but I will now ride home.”

  And so did he. But that was heard say, though, later, that Steinar Sjonison had that same day sat up beside Einkunnir with eleven men. Thorstein made as if he had not heard of it, and that was let rest thereafter.

  CHAPTER LXXXIV. OF THE END OF THE DEALINGS BETWEEN STEINAR AND THORSTEIN EGILSON.

  A MAN is named, Thorgeir.1 He was a kinsman of Thorstein’s and the greatest friend of his. He dwelt in that time at Alptaness. Thorgeir was wont to have an autumn bidding every autumn. Thorgeir fared to find Thorstein Egilson and bade him to him. Thorstein promised to come, and Thorgeir fared home. But at the appointed day Thorstein made him ready for the journey, and there was then four weeks till winter. With Thorstein fared his eastman2 and two housecarles of his. Grim was named a son of Thorstein’s: he was then of ten winters, and fared too with Thorstein; and they were five in company and rode out to the force and there over Longwater, and so out as their road lay to Aurridawater.

  But out by the river was Steinar at work, and Onund and housecarles of theirs; and when they knew Thorstein, then leapt they to their weapons and therewith after Thorstein and his men. And when Thorstein saw Steinar’s faring after them, then rode they out of Longholt. There is a certain knoll, high and not wide: there light they down, Thorstein and his, from their horses, and hasten up on to the knoll. Thorstein spake that the boy Grim should fare into the wood and not be stood by at their meeting.

  And straightway when Steinar and his come to the knoll, then set they on against Thorstein and his, and there befell a battle. Steinar and his were six in company, grown men, but the seventh a son of Steinar’s, ten winters old. This meeting saw those men that were in the meadow-closes, from other farms, and ran to it to part them. And when they were parted, then were Thorstein’s housecarles both dead; fallen too was a housecarle of Steinar’s, and some wounded. And when they were parted, searcheth Thorstein about, where Grim was, and they find him. Grim was then wounded sore, and Steinar’s son lay there beside him, dead.

  And when Thorstein leapt a-horseback, then called Steinar upon him and spake: “Runnest thou now, Thorstein the White!”3 saith he.

  Thorstein saith: “A longer way shalt thou run, ere a week be past”.

  And now rode Thorstein and his, out over the marsh, and had with them the boy Grim. And when they came out into that holt that is there, then dieth the boy; and they buried him there in the holt, and that is called Grimsholt, but there is it named Battleknoll, where they fought.

  Thorstein rode to Alptaness that evening, as he had been minded, and sat there at the bidding three nights, but thereafter made him ready for faring home. Men offered to fare with him, but he would not: rode they two in company.

  And that same day, when Steinar knew it was to be looked for that Thorstein would ride home, then rode Steinar out along the sea. And when he came to those sandhills which are below Lambistead, then sitteth he down there on the sandhill. He had that sword that was named Skrymir,4 of all weapons the best; he stood there on the sandhill with the sword drawn and turned then but one way, because he saw then the riding of Thorstein out along the sand.

  Lambi5 dwelt at Lambistead, and saw what Steinar was a-busied with. He walked from home and down to the bank, and when he came to Steinar then grabbed he him from behind under the arms of him. Steinar would tear himself free of him: Lambi held fast: and fare they now off the sandhill down to the level, but then ride Thorstein and his man by the lower road. Steinar had ridden his stud-horse, and it galloped inland along the sea: that saw they, Thorstein and his man, and wondered, because they had not been ware of the faring of Steinar. Then struggled Steinar up again on to the bank, because he saw not that Thorstein had ridden by. And when they came to the brow of the bank, then Lambi kicked him down the sandhill; but Steinar was not on his guard for this: he raced down on to the sand, but Lambi leapt home. And when Steinar was come to his feet, then ran he after Lambi. But when Lambi came to the gate, then leapt he in, but slammed the door behind him. Steinar hewed after him, so that the sword stood fast in the wind-sheath.6 Parted they there. Steinar walked home.

  But when Thorstein came home, then sent he, the day after, a housecarle of his out to Leirulech to say to Steinar that he should move his homestead beyond Burglava, but if not, he would use his vantage against Steinar in that he had the greater power in men; “And there will then be no chance for faring away”. But Steinar made ready his journey, out to Snaefell-strand, and there set he up house where it is named Ellidi. And there endeth their dealings, betwixt him and Thorstein Egilson.

  Thorgeir Blund dwelt at Anisbrent. He dealt unneighbourly with Thorstein all he might. That was on a time when they met together, Egil and Thorstein, that they talked much about Thorgeir Blund their kinsman, and all their talk came to the same thing betwixt them.

  Then quoth Egil:7

  Erst I the lands with talking

  ’Ticed from hand of Steinar:

  Unto the heir of Geir

  Good work methought then wrought I.

  Scurvily doth my sister’s

  Son, yet all bade fair then.

  Nought may he bind himself from bale,

  Blund.—And here I marvel.

  Thorgeir Blund fared away from Anisbrent and fared south into Flokadale, because Thorstein thought there was no dealing with him, albeit he was willing to give way to him withal.

  Thorstein was a man of no foxish tricks,8 and of righteous ways and not overbearing with men, but held his ground if other men meddled with him, and indeed it came somewhat heavy for most men to try for the mastery with him.

  Odd was then lord in Burgfirth to the south of Whitewater. He was temple-priest, and ruled over that temple that all men paid the temple-toll to this side of Skarths-heath.

  CHAPTER LXXXV. OF THE LAST DAYS AND DEATH OF EGIL SKALLAGRIMSON.

  EGIL SKALLAGRIMSON became an old man; but in his old age he began to be heavy of mo
vement, and he was dull both of hearing and sight; he began withal to be stiff of leg. Egil was then at Mossfell with Grim and Thordis.

  That was on a day that Egil walked out along by the wall and struck his foot and fell. Some women saw that, and laughed at it and spake: “Shent art thou now, Egil, altogether, sith thou fallest of thine own self”.

  Then saith goodman Grim: “Less mocked women at us two then when we were younger”.

  Then quoth Egil:1

  Like hobbled steed I stumble;

  Bald scalp I’m like to fall on;

  Woeful weak is leg-berg’s

  Wimble; and hearing’s gone now.

  Egil became altogether sightless. That was upon a day, when the weather was cold in winter-time, that Egil fared to the fire to warm himself. The kitchen-wench talked of it, that that was a great wonder, such a man as Egil had been, that he should lie before their feet, so that they might not get their work done.

  “Be content thou,” saith Egil, “though I bake myself by the fire, and let us be kind and give place to one another.”

  “Stand thou up,” saith she, “and get thee to thy place, and let us get our work done.”

  Egil stood up and gat him to his place, and quoth:2

  Blind toward embers turn I;

  Bid I the spear-care’s goddess

  Pity the ill I bear in

  The balls that press mine eyelids.