Spoken Lore

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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“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

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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

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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

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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

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