King Harold Fair-hair took for his own all those lands that Kveldulf and Skallagrim had left behind in Norway, and all their other property that he could lay hands on. He also sought diligently after those men who had been in the counsels or confidence or in any way helpers of Skallagrim and his folk in the deeds which they wrought before Skallagrim went abroad out of the land. And so far stretched the enmity of the king against father and son, that he bore hatred against their kith and kin, or any whom he knew to have been their dear friends. Some suffered punishment from him, many fled away and sought refuge, some within the land, some out of the land altogether. Yngvar Skallagrim’s wife’s father was one of these men aforesaid. This rede did he take, that he turned all his wealth that he could into movables, then gat him a sea-going ship and a crew thereto, and made ready to go to Iceland, for he had heard that Skallagrim had taken up his abode there, and there would be no lack of choice land there with Skallagrim. So when they were ready and a fair wind blew, he sailed out to sea, and his voyage sped well. He came to Iceland on the south coast, and held on westwards past Reykja-ness, and sailed into Borgar-firth, and entering Long-river went up it even to the Falls. There they put out they ship’s lading.

~ Egil’s Saga, Chapter 30 : Paragraph 1

Guttorm fell sick, and when near his end sent to king Harold, bidding him see to his children and his province. Soon after this he died. On hearing of his death, the king summoned Hallvard Hardfarer and his brother, and told them to go on a message for him eastwards to Vik, he being then at Throndheim. They made great preparations for their journey, choosing them men and the best ship they could get; it was the very ship they had taken from Thorgils Yeller. But when they were ready, the king told them their errand: they were to go eastwards to Tunsberg, the market town where Guttorm had resided. ‘Ye shall,’ said the king, ‘bring to me Guttorm’s sons, but his daughters shall be fostered there till I bestow them in marriage. I will find men to take charge of the province and foster the maidens.’

So the brothers started with a fair wind, and came in the spring eastwards to Vik and to Tunsberg, and there declared their errand. They took the sons of Guttorm, and much movable property, and went their way back. The wind was then somewhat slack, and their voyage slower, but nothing happened till they sailed northwards over the Sogn-sea, having now a good wind and bright weather, and being in merry mood.

~ Egils Saga, Chapter 26

Kveldulf heard of his son Thorolf’s death, and so deeply grieved was he at the tidings that he took to his bed from sorrow and age. Skallagrim came often to him, and talked with him; he bade him cheer up. ‘Anything,’ (he said) ‘ was more fitting than to become worthless and lie bedridden; better counsel is it that we seek to avenge Thorolf. Maybe we shall come across some of those who took part in his slaying; but if not that, yet there will be men whom we can reach, and thereby displease the king.’

Kveldulf sang a stave:

‘Thorolf in northern isle

(O cruel Norns!) is dead:

Too soon the Thunder-god

Hath ta’en my warrior son.

Thor’s heavy wrestler, age,

Holds my weak limbs from fray:

Though keen my spirit spurs,

No speedy vengeance mine.’

The king said: ‘Set fire to the room; I will not waste my men by doing battle with him outside; I know that Thorolf will work us great man-scathe if he come out, though he has fewer men than we.’

So fire was set to the room, and it soon caught, because the wood was dry and the walls tarred and the roof thatched with birch-bark. Thorolf bade his men break up the wainscoting and get gable-beams, and so burst through the planking; and when they got the beams, then as many men as could hold on to it took one beam, and they rammed at the corner with the other beam-end so hard that the clasps flew out, and the walls started asunder, and there was a wide outlet.

There was a man named Yngvar, powerful and wealthy. He had been a baron of the former kings. But after Harold came to the throne, Yngvar sat at home and served not the king. Yngvar was married and had a daughter named Bera. Yngvar dwelt in the Firths. Bera was his only child and heiress. Grim Kveldulf’s son asked Bera to wife, and the match was arranged. Grim took Bera in the winter following the summer when Thorolf had parted from him and his father.

Grim was then twenty-five years old, and was now bald, wherefore he was henceforth called Skallagrim. He had then the management of all the farms belonging to his father and himself and of all the produce, though Kveldulf was yet a hale and strong man. They had many freedmen about them, and many men who had grown up there at home and were about Skallagrim’s equals in age. Men of prowess and strength they were mostly, for both father and son chose strong fellows to be their followers, and trained them after their mind. Skallagrim was like his father in stature and strength, as also in face and temper.

~ Egil’s Saga, Chapter 20

But when he was gone, the king put into the hands of Hildirida’s sons his business in Halogaland which Thorolf had before had, as also the Finmark journey. The king claimed ownership of the estate at Torgar, and of all the property that Brynjolf had had; and all this he gave into the keeping of Hildirida’s sons. The king sent messengers with tokens to Thorolf to tell him of this arrangement, whereupon Thorolf took the ships belonging to him, put on board all the chattels he could carry, and with all his men, both freedmen and thralls, sailed northwards to his farm at Sandness, where he kept up no fewer and no less state than before.

Hildirida’s sons took the business in Halogaland; and none gainsaid this because of the king’s power, but Thorolf’s kinsmen and friends were much displeased at the change. The two brothers went on the fell in the winter, taking with them thirty men. To the Finns there seemed much less honour in these stewards than when Thorolf came, and the money due was far worse paid.

~ Egil’s Saga, Chapter 16: Paragraph 11 and Chapter 17: Paragraph 1

Finmark is a wide tract; it is bounded westwards by the sea, wherefrom large firths run in; by sea also northwards and round to the east; but southwards lies Norway; and Finmark stretches along nearly all the inland region to the south, as also does Halogaland outside. But eastwards from Naumdale is Jamtaland, then Helsingjaland and Kvenland, then Finland, then Kirialaland; along all these lands to the north lies Finmark, and there are wide inhabited fell-districts, some in dales, some by lakes. The lakes of Finmark are wonderfully large, and by the lakes there are extensive forests. But high fells lie behind from end to end of the Mark, and this ridge is called Keels.

~ Egil’s Saga, Chapter 14: Paragraph 2

King Harold went that summer to Halogaland, and banquets were made ready against his coming, both where his estates were, and also by barons and powerful landowners. Thorolf prepared a banquet for the king at great cost; it was fixed for when the king should come there. To this he bade a numerous company, the best men that could be found. The king had about three hundred men with him when he came to the banquet, but Thorolf had five hundred present. Thorolf had caused a large granary to be fitted up where the drinking should be, for there was no hall large enough to contain all that multitude. And all around the building shields were hung.

The king sate in the high seat; but when the foremost bench was filled, then the king looked round, and he turned red, but spoke not, and men thought they could see he was angry. The banquet was magnificent, and all the viands of the best. The king, however, was gloomy; he remained there three nights, as had been intended. On the day when the king was to leave Thorolf went to him, and offered that they should go together down to the strand. The king did so, and there, moored off the land, floated that dragon-ship which Thorolf had had built, with tent and tackling complete. Thorolf gave the ship to the king, and prayed the king to believe that he had gathered such numbers for this end, to show the king honour, and not to enter into rivalry with him. The king took Thorolf’s words well, and then became merry and cheerful. Many added their good word, saying (as was true) that the banquet was most splendid, and the farewell escort magnificent, and that the king gained much strength by such men. Then they parted with much affection. The king went northwards through Halogaland as he had purposed, and returned south as summer wore on. He went to yet other banquets there that were prepared for him.

~ Egil’s Saga, Chapter 11

Of all his guard the king most prized his skalds; they occupied the second high seat. Of these Audun Ill-skald sat innermost, being the oldest; he had been skald to Halfdan Swarthy, king Harold’s father. Next to him sat Thorbjorn Raven, then Aulvir Hnuf, and next to him was placed Bard; he was there by-named Bard the White or Bard the Strong. He was in honour with everyone there, but between him and Aulvir Hnuf was a close friendship.

~ Egil’s Saga, Chapter 8: Paragraph 2

Thorolf Kveldulf’s son and Eyvind Lambi came home from sea-roving in the autumn. Thorolf went to his father, and father and son had some talk together. Thorolf asked what had been the errand of the men whom Harold sent thither. Kveldulf said the king had sent them with this message, that Kveldulf or else one of his sons should become his man.

‘How answeredst thou?’ said Thorolf.

‘I spake what was in my mind, that I would never take service with king Harold; and ye two will both do the same, if I may counsel: this I think will be the end, that we shall reap ruin from that king.’

‘That,’ said Thorolf, ‘is quite contrary to what my mind tells me, for I think I shall get from him much advancement. And on this I am resolved, to seek the king, and become his man; and this I have learnt for true, that his guard is made up of none but valiant men. To join their company, if they will have me, seems to me most desirable; these men are in far better case than all others in the land. And ’tis told me of the king that he is most generous in money gifts to his men, and not slow to give them promotion and to grant rule to such as he deems meet for it. Whereas I hear this about all that turn their backs upon him and pay him not homage with friendship, that they all become men of nought, some flee abroad, some are made hirelings. It seems wonderful to me, father, in a man so wise and ambitious as thou art, that thou wouldst not thankfully take the dignity which the king offered thee. But if thou thinkest that thou hast prophetic foresight of this, that we shall get misfortune from this king, and that he will be our enemy, then why didst thou not go to battle against him with that king in whose service thou wert before? Now, methinks it is most unreasonable neither to be his friend nor his enemy.’

‘It went,’ said Kveldulf, ‘just as my mind foreboded, that they marched not to victory who went northwards to fight with Harold Shockhead in Mæra; and equally true will this be, that Harold will work much scathe on my kin. But thou, Thorolf, wilt take thine own counsel in thine own business; nor do I fear, though thou enter into the company of Harold’s guards, that thou wilt not be thought capable and equal to the foremost in all proofs of manhood. Only beware of this, keep within bounds, nor rival thy betters; thou wilt not, I am sure, yield to others overmuch.’

But when Thorolf made him ready to go, Kveldulf accompanied him down to the ship and embraced him, with wishes for his happy journey and their next merry meeting.

~ Egil’s Saga, Chapter 7

Harold, son of Halfdan Swarthy, was heir after his father. He had bound himself by this vow, not to let his hair be cut or combed till he were sole king over Norway, wherefore he was called Harold Shockhead. So first he warred with the kings nearest to him and conquered them, as is told at length elsewhere. Then he got possession of Upland; thence he went northwards to Throndheim, and had many battles there before he became absolute over all the Thronds. After that he purposed to go north to Naumdale to attack the brothers Herlaug and Hrollaug, kings of Naumdale. But when these brothers heard of his coming, Herlaug with twelve men entered the sepulchral mound which they had caused to be made (they were three winters at the making), and the mound then was closed after them. But king Hrollaug sank from royalty to earldom, giving up his kingdom and becoming a vassal of Harold. So Harold gained the Naumdalesmen and Halogaland, and he set rulers over his realm there. Then went he southwards with a fleet to Mæra and Raumsdale. But Solvi Bandy-legs, Hunthiof’s son, escaped thence, and going to king Arnvid, in South Mæra, he asked help, with these words:

‘Though this danger now touches us, before long the same will come to you; for Harold, as I ween, will hasten hither when he has enthralled and oppressed after his will all in North Mæra and Raumsdale. Then will the same need be upon you as was upon us, to guard your wealth and liberty, and to try everyone from whom you may hope for aid. And I now offer myself with my forces against this tyranny and wrong. But, if you make the other choice, you must do as the Naumdalesmen have done, and go of your own will into slavery, and become Harold’s thralls. My father though it victory to die a king with honour rather than become in his old age another king’s subject. Thou, as I judge, wilt think the same, and so will others who have any high spirit and claim to be men of valour.’

By such persuasion king Arnvid was determined to gather his forces and defend his land. He and Solvi made a league, and sent messengers to Audbjorn, king of the Firthfolk, that he should come and help them. Audbjorn, after counsel taken with friends, consented, and bade cut the war-arrow and send the war-summons throughout his realm, with word to his nobles that they should join him.

But when the king’s messengers came to Kveldulf and told him their errand, and that the king would have Kveldulf come to him with all his house-carles, then answered he: ‘It is my duty to the king to take the field with him if he have to defend his own land, and there be harrying against the Firthfolk; but this I deem clean beyond my duty, to go north to Mæra and defend their land. Briefly ye may say when ye meet your king that Kveldulf will sit at home during this rush to war, nor will he gather forces nor leave his home to fight with Harold Shockhead. For I think that he has a whole load of good-fortune where our king has not a handful.’

The messengers went back to the king, and told him how their errand had sped; but Kveldulf sat at home on his estates.

~ Egil’s Saga, Chapter 3

Then Brusi, the son of Halli, made these verses:

“Thou warrior-goddess of the shield!

We held our own in battle fray–

I know ‘tis so–we did not yield

The honour of the day.

“Those chiefs forsooth, the while we fought,

(Bright nymph! it may not be denied)

Strode somewhat faster than I though

Adown the steep hill side.”

Then Einar composed a stanza:

“he had to run away perforce

From out the fight–that swordsman bold–

I trow ‘twas hard to stop his course

As down the bank he roll’d.

“Well us’d the pirate’s spear to wield,

In vain that chieftain fought,

And the loose shingle fail’d to yield

The foothold which he sought.”

Then Glum composed some verses in answer to him:

“Though standing on the band so high

Their helmets made a gallant show,

They did not dare their luck to try

Upon the beach below.

“They did not dare to risk the path,

Whilst on the sandy shore we stood,

And fac’d the dread Valkyrie’s wrath

With shields that dripp’d with blood.”

The matter was settled upon the ground that the death of Klængr and Thorvald of Hagi were set off one against the other, and the slaying of Grim Eyrarlegg was considered equal to the injury caused to Gudmund; but Glum was much dissatisfied with this close of the suit, as he expressed himself in the following stanza, which he made afterwards:

“The world is worthless; and my life

With all the keen delights of strife

Hath well-nigh passed away.

“Too weak, when gallant Grim lay low,

To strike ‘mid men th’ avenging blow,

And blood with blood repay!”

Now men returned from the Thing, and Glum staid at home all the summer: everything was quiet in the district till it came to the time of the “Leet,” when they assembled at that court. Glum, however, was not there, and nothing was heard of him. Márr was at home in his dwelling; but in the autumn, five weeks before winter, he held a wedding-feast, and invited men to it, so that not less than a hundred and twenty people came together. This invitation appeared strange to everybody, for those who were concerned in the wedding were not persons of any consequence. That evening all the men of Eyjafirth were seen riding in from the dales two or five at a time, and the people who came down into the district were all collected in one body. Glum was there, and Asgrim, and Gizor, with three hundred and sixty men, and they came in the course of the night to the homestead, and sat at the wedding-feast.

Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 25: Paragraph 1

Halli the fat was the first who came up to interfere, and may men were with him. The end of the combat was that five men of those from Espihole were killed, that is to say, Thorvald the crooked, Arngrim, Eysein, Eirik, and Eyvind the Norwegian. On Glum’s side there fell Thorvald Tafalld, Eyiolf son of Thorleif, Jöd, and the two thralls. Thorarin got home with his people; Glum also returned with his men, and had the dead carried into an outbuilding, where the utmost honour was done to the body of Thorvald, for garments were placed under it, and it was sewn up in a skin. When the men had returned, Glum said to Halldora, “Our expedition to-day would have been successful, if you had staid at home, and if Thorarin had not escaped with his life.” She replied, There is little of life in Thorarin, and if he lives you will not be able to remain in the district long; but if he dies you will not be able to remain in the country at all.” After this Glum said to Gudbrand, “You got much honour by your prowess to-day in killing Thorvald the crooked, and you did us good service.” Gudbrand replied that nothing of the sort had happened; he had only defended himself as well as he could. “Oh,” said Glum, “that is all very well. I saw clearly what took place; a mere child in age to kill such a champion as Thorvald! You will always be talked of for this deed. I got credit abroad in the same way for killing the Berserker.” “I never slew Thorvald,” answered Gudbrand. “It is no use trying to conceal it, my good friend, you gave him the wound which killed him. Do not shirk the good luck which has fallen to you.” Glum maintained his point with Gudbrand till the latter believed what he said, admitted that he had done it, and thought it an honour to himself, so that it could no longer be concealed, and the death was formally laid to his charge. This seemed to those who took up the suit for Thorvald’s slaughter to be less promising than had been expected: Thorvald was chosen as the man whose death was to be avenged.

~ Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 23: Paragraph 2

The servant did what Bárd told him, and Bárd himself unstrapped his shield, and got ready in the best way he could. When they came up he asked what they wanted? Vigfuss said that both of them would not quit the meeting-place alive. Bárd replied that he was ready, if they two only were to play the game out; “but there is no manhood in it if three are to set on one.” The Easterlings then said they would have staid at home if they had known their errand, but that they could not take part unless, in consequence of Bárds companion having ridden off, men should come to his assistance. Vigfuss told them to see first how matters went. So he and Bárd fought for some time without either being wounded, but it looked worse for Vigfuss, inasmuch as he had to give ground every time without being able to make a single blow tell. Bárd had his sword, and defended himself admirable without being touched. In the mean time the Easterlings thought it would be a bad business if Vigfuss should be slain, while they stood by doing nothing, and if men should come up to help Bárd. They they rushed at him, so that he was dying when Hlenni and his men got there. Vigfuss and his friends rode home, but Glum was ill pleased with what they had done, and said that the difficulties in the district would be greatly increased. Halli went to his foster-son Einar, at Saurbæ, and asked him to take the case in hand, and he admitted that he was bound to avenge his kinsman and foster-brother. Then they rode to Thorarin, and asked for his support; he replied that he knew no man he would rather have to deal with than Vigfuss, and they confirmed with oaths their alliance with reference to that and all other matters. The cause went to the Thing, and attempts were made to compound it, but there was so much in the way that it was difficult to effect a compromise, as both the men of Mödrufell and those of Espihole, who resisted it, were bold in spirit, and well versed in the law. The case was closed by a verdict against the Easterlings, and by money being given to allow Vigfuss a safe conduct. He was to have three summers to get a passage out, and to have three places of refuge in each year, but he was an outlaw on peril of his life elsewhere, and not allowed to be at home on account of the sacredness of the place. However, he stayed long at Upsal, though people thought he was in other quarters of the island, and he would not go abroad within the period fixed. Then he became completely outlawed, and Glum kept him concealed, but outlawed men were not allowed to live there because Frey, who owned the temple, did not permit it. So matters went on for six winters.

Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 19: Paragraph 3

A man hight Halli lived at Jorunnarstad, who was called “Halli the white,” and he was the son of Thorbiörn, whilst his mother was Vigdis, the daughter of Andun the bald. Now Halli had fostered Einar, the son of Eyiolf, who then lived at Saurbæ. Halli was blind, and was mixed up in all the lawsuits in the country because he was both a wise man and sound in his judgment. His sons were Orm and Brusi the Skald, who lived at Törfufell, and Bárd, who lived at Skállstad. Bárd was a noisy, quarrelsome fellow, better able to fight than anybody, and reckless and abusive in his language; he had for a wife Una, the daughter of Oddkell, in Thiorsádal.

One autumn Halli missed some ten or twelve wethers out of the hill pastures, and they could not be found, so when Bárd and his father met, Halli asked his son what he thought had become of the wethers. Bárd replied, “I don’t wonder if sheep disappear, when a thief lives next door to you, ever since Hallvard came into the district. “Yes,” says Halli, “I should like you to set on foot a suit against him, and summon him for theft. I don’t think, if I make this charge against him, Glum will go the lengths of clearing him by the oath of twelve men.” “No,” answered Bárd, “it will be a difficult matter for him to get the oath of twelve men out of Glum and Vigfuss and their people.”

Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 17: Paragraphs 2&3

It happened one summer, at the Althing, that the Northern men and those of the West-firths met one another on the wrestling ground in a match according to their districts. The Northerners had rather the worst of it, and their leader was Márr, the son of Glum. Now a certain man of the name of Ingolf, the son of Thorvald, came up, whose father lived at Rangavellir. Márr addressed him thus–”You are a strong-limbed fellow, and ought to be sturdy; do me the favour of going into the match and taking hold.” his answer was–”I will do so for your sake,” and forthwith the man he grappled with went down, and thus it was with the second, and the third, so that the Northerners were well pleased. Then said Márr, “If you want a good word on my part, I shall be ready to help you. What may be your plans?” “I have no plans,” he answered, “but I had an inclination to go northward and get work.” “Well,” rejoined Márr, “I should like you to go with me; I will get you a place.” Ingolf had a good horse of his own, which he called b the name of “Snækoll,” and he went northward to Thverá, after the Thing was over, and staid there some time. Márr asked him one day what he intended to do. “There is and over-looker wanted here, who ought to be somewhat handy; for instance, here is this sledge to be finished, and if you can do that you can do something worth having.” “I should be too glad of such a place,” said Ingolf, “but it has sometimes happened that my horses have caused trouble in the pastures of the cattle.” “No one will talk about that here,” answered Márr; so Ingiolf set to work on the sledge. Glum came up, and looked at what he was doing. “That is a good piece of work,” he observed. “What are your plans?” Ingolf answered, “I have no plans.” Glum replied, “I want an over-looker, are you used to that sort of business?” “Not much, in such a place as this, but I should be glad to stay with you.” “Why should it not be so?” said Glum; “for I see that you and Márr get on well together.” When Márr came home Ingolf told him what had passed. “I should like it much,” he answered, “if it turns out well, and I will take care, if anything displeases my father, to tell you of it three times; but if you do not set it right then I must stop.” So Ingolf took to his business, and Glum was pleased with him.

Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 13: Paragraph 1

There was a woman who went about in that part of the country, named Oddbiörg, who amused people by story telling, and was a “spaewife.” A feeling existed that it was of some consequence for the mistress of the house to receive her well, for that what she said depended more or less on how she was entertained. She came to Upsal, and Saldis asked her to spae something, and that something good, of those boys. Her answer was, “Hopeful are these lads; but what their future luck may be it is difficult for me to discern.” Saldis exclaimed, “If I am to judge by this unsatisfactory speech of yours, I suppose you are not pleased with your treatment here.” “You must not,” said Oddbiörg, “let this affect your hospitality, nor need you be so particular about a word of this kind.” “The less you say the better,” replied Saldis, “if you can tell us nothing good.” “I have not yet said too much,” she answered; “but I do not think this love of theirs will last long.” Then Saldis said, “I should have thought my good treatment of you deserved some other omen; and if you deal with evil bodings, you will have a chance of being turned out of doors.” “Well,” said Oddbiörg, “since you are so angry about nothing, I see no need for sparing you, and I shall never trouble you again. But, take it as you will, I can tell you that these boys will hereafter be the death each of the other, and one mischief worse than another for this district will spring from them.” So Oddbiörg is out of our story.

~ Viga Glum’s Saga, Chapter 12: Paragraph 2

“At dead of night, beneath the sky,

Upon the banks of Eyjafirth,

I saw the spirit stalking by,

In giant stature o’er the earth.

“The goddess of the sword and spear

Stood, in my dream, upon this ground;

And whilst the valley shook with fear,

She tower’d above the mountains round.”

~ Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 9: Vigfuss’ death song

The temple of Frey was on the south of the river at Hripkelstad. Thorarin, of Espihole, was a prudent and popular man, but his brother Thorvald the crooked was a bully and hard to deal with. Sigmund thought he should be a great man if he could ally himself to the people at Espihole. In the meantime the property of Glum and Astrida was getting less every day, and their condition became uncomfortable, for Sigmund and Thorkel thwarted them, so that in everything they got less than their share. Then Glum says to his mother that he will go abroad, “for I see clearly I shall never get on here, but it may be I shall meet with more luck by means of the reputation of my kindred: I do not like to bear the encroachments of Sigmund, for whom as yet I am no match. However, do not you let go your hold on the land, through your position may be a difficult one.” Glum at that time, when he desired to go abroad, was fifteen years of age.

~ Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 5: Paragraph 4

NOW, when Ivar arrived, they went out to meet him as a mark of honour, and received him joyfully. Either brother then aksed the other for tidings and Ivar inquired of Hreidar where he had been through the winter. Hreidar told him he had been in Iceland, and then Ivar asked no more about the matter; “but tell me,” said he, “is that great rough lump I see there a man, or is it some animal?” Eyiolf answered, “I am a man of Iceland, my name is Eyiolf, and I intend to be here all the winter.” “I guess one thing,” said Ivar; “we shall not be without mischief of some kind, if an Icelander is here.” Hreidar replied, “If you deal badly with him, so that he cannot stay here, the affection between us, as near kinsmen, will suffer.” “It was a bad voyage of yours to Iceland,” said Ivar, “if we on that account are to be dependent on Icelanders, or cast off our own friends and kindred: nor do I know why you chose to visit that most hateful people; and then too you have escaped telling me what has happened to you.” (1) “It is very different from what you suppose,” said Hreidar; “there are many good fellows there.” “Well,” replied Ivar, “at any rate that rough and shaggy beast does not look particularly well on the high seat.” But when he saw that his brother set great store by Eyiolf he did not speak so strongly as before against Icelanders. “What can I call him,” said he, “except “Lump?’” and Eyiolf did not seem to object to the name; but they made the worst of everything that he did.

~ Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 3:Paragraph 1

Great the evils once that grew, With the dawning sad of the sorrow of elves; In early morn awake for men The evils that grief to each shall bring.

Not now, nor yet of yesterday was it, Long the time that since hath lapsed, So that little there is that is half as old, Since Guthrun, daughter of Gjuki, whetted Her sons so young to Svanhild’s vengeance.

“The sister ye had was Svanhild called, And her did Jormunrek trample with horses, White and black on the battle-way, Gray, road-wonted, the steeds of the Goths.

“Little the kings of the folk are ye like, For now ye are living alone of my race

~ Hamthesmol, stanzas 1 through 4

Weeping Guthrun, Gjuki’s daughter, Went sadly before the gate to sit, And with tear-stained cheeks to tell the tale Of her mighty griefs, so many in kind.

“Three home-fires knew I, three hearths I knew, Home was I brought by husbands three; But Sigurth only of all was dear, He whom my brothers brought to his death.

“A greater sorrow I saw not nor knew, Yet more it seemed I must suffer yet When the princes great to Atli gave me.

“The brave boys I summoned to secret speech; For my woes requital I might not win Till off the heads of the Hniflungs I hewed.

“To the sea I went, my heart full sore For the Norns, whose wrath I would now escape; But the lofty billows bore me undrowned, Till to land I came, so I longer must live.

“Then to the bed - of old was it better! - Of a king of the folk a third time I came; Boys I bore his heirs to be, Heirs so young, the sons of Jonak.

“But round Svanhild handmaidens sat, She was dearest ever of all my children; So did Svanhild seem in my hall As the ray of the sun is fair to see.

“Gold I gave her and garments bright, Ere I let her go to the Gothic folk; Of my heavy woes the hardest it was When Svanhild’s tresses fair were trodden In the mire by hoofs of horses wild.

~ Guthrunarhvot, Stanzas 9 through 16

“I have seldom slept since the hour they were slain, Baleful were my threats, now I bid thee recall them; Thou didst say it was morning, too well I remember, Now is evening come, and this question thou askest.

“Now both of thy sons thou hast lost The skulls of thy boys thou as beer-cups didst have,

And the draught that I made thee was mixed with their blood. “I cut out their hearts, on spit I cooked them, I came to thee with them, and calf’s flesh I called them; Alone didst thou eat them, nor any didst leave, Thou didst greedily bite, and thy teeth were busy.

~ Atlamol en Gronlenzku, Stanzas 79 through 82

Wise was Kostbera, and cunning in rune_craft, The letters would she read by the light of the fire; But full quickly her tongue to her palate clave, So strange did they seem that their meaning she saw not.

Full soon then his bed came Hogni to seek, (But sleep to the woman so wise came little) The clear_souled one dreamed, and her dream she kept not, To the warrior the wise one spake when she wakened:

“Thou wouldst go hence, Hogni, but heed my counsel,_ Known to few are the runes, and put off thy faring; I have read now the runes that thy sister wrote, And this time the bright one did not bid thee to come.

“Full much do I wonder, nor well can I see, Why the woman wise so wildly hath written; But to me it seems that the meaning beneath Is that both shall be slain if soon ye shall go. But one rune she missed, or else others have marred it.”

Hogni spake: “All women are fearful; not so do I feel, Ill I seek not to find till I soon must avenge it; The king now will give us the glow_ruddy gold; I never shall fear, thou of dangers I know.”

Kostbera spake: “In danger ye fare, if forth ye go thither, No welcoming friendly this time shall ye find; For I dreamed now, Hogni, and nought will I hide, Full evil thy faring, if rightly I fear.

~ Atlamol en Gronlenzku, Stanzas 9 through 14

Hogni spake:  “What seeks she to say, that she sends us a ring, Woven with a wolf’s hair? methinks it gives warning; In the red rind a hair of the heath-dweller found I, Wolf-like shall our road be if we ride on this journey.”

Not eager were his comrades, nor the men of his kin, The wise nor the wary, nor the warriors bold. But Gunnar spake forth as befitted a king, Noble in the beer-hall, and bitter his scorn;

“Stand forth now, Fjornir! and hither on the floor The beakers all golden shalt thou bring to the warriors,

“The wolves then shall rule the wealth of the Niflungs, Wolves aged and grey-hued, if Gunnar is lost, And black-coated bears with rending teeth bit, And make glad the dogs, if Gunnar returns not.”

Atlakvitha en Gronlenzka ~ Stanzas 6 through 9

Oddrun spake: “I remember the evil one eve thou spakest, When a draught I gave to Gunnar then; Thou didst say that never such a deed By maid was done save by me alone.”

Then the sorrowing woman sat her down To tell the grief of her troubles great.

“Happy I grew in the hero’s hall As the warriors wished, and they loved me well; Glad I was of my father’s gifts, For winters five, while my father lived.

“These were the words the weary king, Ere he died, spake last of all; He bade me with red gold dowered be, And to Grimhild’s son in the South be wedded.

“But Brynhild the helm he bade to wear, A wish-maid bright he said she should be; For a noble maid would never be born On earth, he said, if death should spare her.

~ Oddrunargratr, Stanzas 12 through 16

From the Thing ran Grani with thundering feet, But thence did Sigurth himself come never; Covered with sweat was the saddle-bearer, Wont the warrior’s weight to bear.

Weeping I sought with Grani to speak, With tear-wet cheeks for the tale I asked; The head of Grani was bowed to the grass, The steed knew well his master was slain.

Long I waited and pondered well Ere ever the king for tiding I asked.

His head bowed Gunnar, but Hogni told The news full sore of Sigurth slain: “Hewed to death at our hands he lies, Gotthorm’s slayer, given to wolves.

~ Guthrunarkvitha II, en forna, Stanzas 3 through 6

From the Thing ran Grani with thundering feet, But thence did Sigurth himself come never; Covered with sweat was the saddle-bearer, Wont the warrior’s weight to bear.

Weeping I sought with Grani to speak, With tear-wet cheeks for the tale I asked; The head of Grani was bowed to the grass, The steed knew well his master was slain.

Long I waited and pondered well Ere ever the king for tiding I asked.

His head bowed Gunnar, but Hogni told The news full sore of Sigurth slain: “Hewed to death at our hands he lies, Gotthorm’s slayer, given to wolves.

~ Guthrunarkvitha II, en forna, Stanzas 3 through 6

After the death of Brynhild there were made two bale-fires, the one for Sigurth, and that burned first, and on the other was Brynhild burned, and she was on a wagon which was covered with a rich cloth. Thus it is told, that Brynhild went in the wagon on Hel-way, and passed by a house where dwelt a certain giantess. The giantess spake:

“Thou shalt not further forward fare, My dwelling ribbed with rocks across; More seemly it were at thy weaving to stay, Than another’s husband here to follow.

“What wouldst thou have from Valland here, Fickle of heart, in this my house? Gold-goddess, now, if thou wouldst know, Heroes’ blood from thy hands hast washed.”

Brynhild spake: “Chide me not, woman from rocky walls, Though to battle once I was wont to go; Better than thou I shall seem to be, When men us two shall truly know.”

The giantess spake: “Thou wast, Brynhild, Buthli’s daughter, For the worst of evils born in the world; To death thou hast given Gjuki’s children, And laid their lofty house full low.”

Brynhild spake: “Truth from the wagon here I tell thee, Witless one, if know thou wilt How the heirs of Gjuki gave me to be joyless ever, a breaker of oaths.

“Hild the helmed in Hlymdalir They named me of old, all they who knew me.

~ Helreith Brynhildar, Stanzas 1 through 6