Their son was named Bard; he soon grew to be tall and handsome, and became a right doughty man. A gallant minstrel But when the freebooters had gone far into the settled parts, the Frisians gathered them in the woods, and when they had assembled three hundred men, they went against the freebooters resolved to give them battle. He was well-made, more than commonly tall, had hair wolf-gray and thick, but became early bald. ', 'I suppose,' said Skallagrim, 'you think that we have made our division of the movable property. But when king Athelstan perceived king Olaf's division beginning to break, he then spurred on his force, and bade his standard advance. But when Skallagrim got to know this, he called Bjorn to him, and asked how it had been with his marriage; had it been made with the consent of his wife's kin. 'Thorolf,' said he, 'is too wise to be in the way of thy followers, O king, for he must guess that all will not be so close but thou wilt get to know these things. Aulvir fell too, vomiting. apartments in wichita falls, tx based on income However, as ye bear sure tokens that the king has sent you, I will pay all the tribute to which he has a right, and deliver it into your hands: but I will not be answerable afterwards for how you fare with it.' He thrust Bard right through the middle with the sword, so that the point went out at the back. Wherefore he stood up, went across the floor to where Armod sat, took him with his hands by the shoulders, and forced him back against the inner posts, and spat in his face. And what I bring will, I know, owe all its worth to this, that it is given out of gratitude to thee. He was somewhat older than Egil; there had long been friendship between the two. That winter the king held court in the north in Throndheim. Whom fair-haired king Hallvard's company had constantly met a head-wind, and had waited about in various havens till news of them had gone the upper way overland, and Thorolf's spies had become aware of it, and this gathering of force was on this account. Olaf, young prince, encountered Egil drank without shirking a drop for a long while, but when his companions were become helpless, then he drank for them what they could not. 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. Egill traveled with some of King Hkon's men to Vrmland and fought battles, Egill killing many times more foes than his companions. From deep thought's dwelling. Thorstein rode to Swan-ness that evening, as he had intended, and sat there at the feast three nights, after which he made him ready to go home. There are also poems which show a much softer side to the Icelandic male characters. Feel'st thou deadly rain.'. They made ready to sail. A compromise was mediated by Olvir Hnufa (lvir hnfa or "Olvir Hump"), Kveldulf's brother-in-law and Harald's court poet: Kveldulf was to send his elder son Thorolf, as soon as he returned from viking expedition. ', 'You shall not go,' said Skallagrim, 'for you know not how to behave yourself in company where there is much drinking, you who are not good to deal with though you be sober.'. Whom friends all fail. The company was not numerous, but the feast went off very well, and the king was quite cheerful. While staying with Thorir, Egill became attached to Thorir's son Arinbjorn (Arinbjrn risson), an important figure in the saga and Egill's lifelong friend. And when they came to the ridge, there was wood at the foot of it, but above on the rock it was bare. 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. Ljot then fell and soon expired. Aulvir at once rose and went out, for he knew who they were who had come. But for the sake of thy intercession, Thorir, I will take a money fine for this man.' This ship they had taken in their summer freebooting. They spoke much of what a toilsome way they had come that evening, but the house-carles thought it a great marvel that they had won through it at all; it was, they said, no road for man even were it free of snow. There was a man named Kettle Hod; he was of king Eric's guard, an Uplander by family. But Thorgils and his comrades got conveyance, and went to Kveldulf and his son, and told of the misadventure of their voyage, yet were they well received. For within my breast 'Odin, mighty monarch, Beloved of men, Egil took her, and set her down by him. There were two brothers named Sigtrygg Swiftfarer and Hallvard Hardfarer, kinsmen of king Harold on the mother's side; from their father, a wealthy man, they had inherited an estate in Hising. The king said: 'These chests, Egil, thou shalt have, and, if thou comest to Iceland, shalt carry this money to thy father; as payment for a son I send it to him: but some of the money thou shalt divide among such kinsmen of thyself and Thorolf as thou thinkest most honourable. 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. King Eric left him behind to protect Bergonund. egils saga sparknotesjoe's pizza collinsville, il menujoe's pizza collinsville, il menu You will ask Thorolf, your niece's husband, to be here; I and Egil will have one winter home.'. . With boat was whelmed. Whence to leek-tending maiden, Now, when Bjorn and Thorolf had been one winter in Norway and spring came, they made ready a ship and gathered men. This Egil accepted, and had his ship set up on rollers; but his crew found them quarters. And when the appointed time came, there was a very grand feast at Egil's marriage. After this they sent messengers to king Olaf, giving out this as their errand, that king Athelstan would fain enhazel him a field and offer battle on Vin-heath by Vin-wood; meanwhile he would have them forbear to harry his land; but of the twain he should rule England who should conquer in the battle. Thorfinn and his men decided to go into the wood with Egil: thus they were eight in all. egils saga sparknotes ', Arinbjorn: 'I do not think your claim to the ownership of that property is against the law of the land; yet methinks the property is now come into strong keeping. In the autumn the king went north to Throndheim. egils saga sparknotes. The saga begins in Norway around 850, with the life of Egill's grandfather Ulf (lfr) aka Kveldulf or "Evening Wolf", and his two sons Thorolf (rlfr) and Skallagrim (Skalla-Grmr). Meanwhile forces flocked to them both day and night. His one last wish was to travel to the Althing and toss silver he received from King thelstan for the people to fight over. ', 'We are eight,' said they; 'we would fain have four men go from hence; then are we twelve.'. And friends ride thither Book: Jones, Gwyn . But when they got a shift of wind back again, then they sailed for the land. He purposed to sail to England. An untrue steward But for Odd and Einar, who have so eagerly thrust themselves into this cause, they have reaped therefrom due honour.'. Adils at first pursued the flying foe, but not far; then he turned back to where the battle was, and made an onset there. In stormy stress of battle By these the corn-lands or meadows were enclosed; in some places large stakes were set, and over the dyke, where men should go, were bridges and planks laid. And next day at the drinking Egil recited another stave about his poem's reward: 'The wielder of keen-biting wound-fowl The saga recounts Egil's progression from . thelstan also gave an armring, passing it to him at sword-point. [10] Thorolf flung the axe overboard, but reported to King Eirik that his father was grateful for the axe, presenting a bolt of longship sail cloth pretended to be from Skallagrim. Steinar said, 'You are right eager about this cause, father; but I think we shall oft rue this. With the shaft of the axe he poked Thrand, and bade him wake. And at their parting the king delivered to Thorolf an axe, which he said he wished to give to Skallagrim. It is difficult, O king, to place men as managers here, because thou wilt seldom come hither thyself. Soon again a river crossed their way, and fell into White-river; this they called Cross-river. And for this the main cause was that Egil might not be in Norway, by reason of the charges which (as has been told before) the kings there deemed they had against him. Nothing is told of their journey before they came to the island called Hod, and went to pass the night at a farm named Bindheim. An axe all deceitful, Of the wild sea-mew, They said that Aki the wealthy had sent them thither with this message: 'Eyvind Skreyja is lying out off Jutland-side, and thinks to waylay you as you come from the south. And at once on dismounting he went in, and to the passage that was round the hall, with doors leading from the passage to the seats inside. Treacherous trick on such to play.'. ', Then Thorolf went to Thorir, as he had said, and met there a right hearty welcome. Thorfinn said: 'Here passed six men together a little before day; and they were well armed. Such weapons were called mail-piercers. Grim was then twenty-five years old, and was now bald, wherefore he was henceforth called Skallagrim. He and Solvi made a league, and sent messengers to Audbjorn, king of the Firthfolk, that he should come and help them. Of Odin's goblet Egil's Saga . Her death-blow bide.'. I deem it just that you should have this reward from me and my kinsman Fridgeir for saving his life from Ljot; for I know that you did this for love of me. In fact, Thorir was Skallagrim's foster-brother. Then Bard asked Thorolf to go north with him, saying (as was true) that he would meet there many of his kin, men of renown, whom he had not yet seen or known. He then went away, and back to his shipmates; and for that winter each party remained where they had come to land. He took a large flat stone, and pushed it under their necks. A wood cleaver weak. And you must quit Anabrekka before flitting days are past; else may you, immediately after flitting days, be slain with impunity by any who wish to help Thorstein, if you refuse to go away or break any of these terms that I have pronounced for you.'. This was a well-to-do homestead, in which dwelt a baron named Fridgeir. Bjorn and Thorolf, talking with Thorir, asked him whether he thought it true that the king bore a heavy grudge against Thorolf. The king was now sure that what he had before suspected was true, namely, that earl Arnvid had caused the slaying of the two companies of messengers sent eastwards by him. Meanwhile Thorolf was with the king, and in great honour. He then rode to Borg. Egil said that Eyvind Skreyja had had the ships, but they had taken them from him. Where ever was it known that a king was thus dealt with? He came in the autumn to Iceland, and stood into Borgar-firth. Ball-play was then a common game. Readers trust theseries to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-datetranslations by award-winning translators. King Athelstan was a good Christian; he was called Athelstan the Faithful. They answered: 'We know not for sure how much they were wounded; but full boldly did they set on us when we were eight and they four; then we fled. I will do no dastardly deed on thee; yet know thou this for sure, that this is no reconciliation with me or my sons or any of our kin who wish to wreak their vengeance. After this Skallagrim and his men took out to their ships and captured ship and her cargo. ), Egills saga Skallagrmssonar, slenzk fornrit, 2 (Reykjavk, 1933). Krum dwelt at Krums-hills, but Thord at Beigaldi. Thorolf was rather for going up. This wealth-craving wight. Atli the Short so blunted Bard said: 'Right sorry am I that there is no ale in the house, that I might receive you as I would; you will have to make out with what there is. And he found that the cattle that went on the heath were by far better and fatter; also that sheep did well through the winters in the fell-dales without being driven down. He had now been long abroad. All landowners were to be his tenants, as also all that worked in the forest, salt-burners, hunters and fishers by land and sea, all these owed him duty. The messengers went home, and came back on the third day according to promise; they now said to king Olaf that Athelstan would give all that he offered before, and over and above, for distribution among king Olaf's soldiers, a shilling to every freeborn man, a silver mark to every officer of a company of twelve men or more, a gold mark to every captain of the king's guard, and five gold marks to every earl. In the autumn he steered back from the east to Denmark, at the time when the fleet at Eyrar was breaking up. Egill composed a poem in his honor. Never had he fewer freedmen about his home than a hundred; he was open-handed and liberal, and readily made friends with the great, and with all that were near him. The brothers Egill and Thorolf Skallagrimsson are born. Whereupon he challenged my son Fridgeir to wager of battle; and he has to go to-morrow to this combat on the island called Vors. In warfare madly met.'. He has long pursued me to-night. But if they turn and fly, they will lose some of their men, and be less bold afterwards for conflict with us. Bjorn said Thora must go with him, and they led her away. You will be mainly answerable for how your cause goes, if Egil is to be judge therein. After this Egil went aboard the ship. In the autumn they came south to the king, and were with him another winter. And 'twas generally said that he and the king were like in appearance. He was called Kveldulf. I rode to seek. Beg of the fire-maid pardon, ', 'Then wouldst thou have been surprised,' said he, 'if thou hadst received all that belonged to thee! The man who bore this message was named Kol; he was a man of all lands; he had been long in Denmark and in Sweden, and knew all about ways and men there. [25] Some time later, Asgerd's father Bjorn the Wealthy died in Norway, but she received no inheritance, the entire estate having been claimed by Berg-Onund, married to Gunnhild Bjarnardottir (Asgerd's half-sister). Please try again later. Egil said to his comrades that he would go on his way and abide no longer. 'Has anything,' asked Egil, 'been tried for her ailment? ', Arinbjorn thanked the king for his words: 'We hope, my lord, that henceforth Egil's cause will take a better turn. At Moss-fell were the summer-sheds of the milch kine, and during the Thing-time Thordis was at the sheds. Openly bruited They had the wind blowing hard against them, and sharp gale and troublesome; but they pursued their journey vigorously, taking to their oars. Aunund Sjoni and some of Egil's company had gone out to sea, to look after their ship and another cargo which they had given into safe keeping in the autumn, and they had not yet returned. One time Arinbjorn went to him and asked what meant his gloom. His son Eric, by-named Bloodaxe, was then quite young. But when Thorgils met the king he gave him greeting from Thorolf, and said that he was come thither with the Finns' tribute sent by Thorolf. Thorstein replied: 'That risk I shall run, if you do not as I say about the pasture. He then begged the king to grant him law in this matter. When Sigridr heard these tidings, she felt her great loss in her husband, but with Thorolf she was already well acquainted, and knew him for a man of great mark; and this promise of her in marriage was good, and besides there was the king's command. He composed a poem about earl Hacon, which is called 'Dearth of Gold'; and for a long time the earl would not hear the poem because he was wroth with Einar. Now, methinks, though I and Eric have not the luck to agree, yet thou mightest be well content should I do nothing in this cause. Egil received the request well, and persuaded Thorstein to let him come thither. As a king, he wore. Alone I will mine own. Egil was matched to play against a boy named Grim, son of Hegg, of Hegg-stead. When the messengers came to Olaf he was just beginning to make ready his army, and purposing to attack. Bjorgolf was now old, and his wife was dead; and he had given over into his son's hands all business, and found him a wife, Helga, daughter of Kettle Hing of Hrafnista. Bold with uplifted brow I now give leave to all to go to Norway who would rather do that than follow me. In Norway too he had travelled widely. These three twelves were to judge all the suits. Bera got a woman to look after the girl. Egil charged Fridgeir with the securing of those lands that had belonged to Ljot. Bergljt Kristjnsdttir and Svanhildur skarsdttir (eds), Book: Green, W. C. . Of much bereaved; Steinar tried to shake him off, but Lambi held fast, and so they went from the sandhill on to the level, and just then Thorstein and his friend rode by on the path below. Words I knew well-fitting King Eric had Atla-island well searched as soon as it was light; this took some time, the island being large, and Egil was not found. It was told of Ulf that he was a great householder; it was his wont to rise up early, and then go round among his labourers or where his smiths were, and to overlook his stalk and fields, and at times he would talk with such as needed his counsel, and good counsel he could give in all things, for he was very wise. Onund also began to draw his sword; but ere it was half drawn Egil pierced him with a thrust. Yet sped my hand a spear, Egil and his force pursued, and slew all whom they overtook; no need there to beg quarter. Next he searched the bed in which she had lain, and there he found a piece of whalebone whereon were runes. 'I will offer you other law, that we do battle here at the Thing, and he shall have the property who wins the victory.'. The saga spans the years c. 850-1000 and traces the family history from Egil's grandfather to his offspring. The king received him, and asked what he would have. And when it was dark, they rowed their long-ship up the river and stood in for the farm-buildings belonging to Hallvard and Sigtrygg. Faithful and true. Life was harsh, particularly during the long, cold winters, when it was crucial for people to get along and work together. Then came other men against them from above on the crag's brow, and cast stones at them, and this was by far the greater danger. I know that Gunnhilda will set all her mind on marring your cause. But as Skallagrim's live-stock multiplied, the cattle used to go up to the fells in the summer. 3184 . Thorolf was killed, and King thelstan compensated Egill for Thorolf's loss with two chests full of silver. After that Steinar rode up to Reykjar-dale to see Tongue-Odd, and asked his help and offered him money. And no tidings are told of his voyage till he arrived home at Sandness, and caused to be conveyed to his farm all the booty he had taken, and had his ship set up upon land. Northwards from Lidandisness they held a course further out, but pillaged wherever they touched land. Thorolf said that this would be a good plan. Egil drew the boat to him with the rope, and leapt out into it. These had received the tribute from the earl. Lonehouse-ness has its name from him. Arinbjorn early showed himself a manly fellow and a doughty. [23] Later, in chapter 38, Skallagrim composes an insulting poem about King Eirik after the king had given Skallagrim a gift not commensurate with his worth. The king accepted his greeting, and bade them serve him with drink. A fierce onset was made, so that king Olaf's force recoiled, and there was a great slaughter. Thorstein offered no atonement for himself, but to those who advised atonement made answer, that he meant to abide by judgment. Atli had the same arming as Egil. One who was heedful, I will now have Egil in keeping for the night. In the following winter Egil composed a poem about the gift of the shield: it is called Buckler-poem, and this is the beginning: 'List to the stream of lay Egil fetched him a blow on the shoulder, but the sword bit not. I bear on arm brand-wielding The car-borne god, He held conference with his captains, and told them how his forces should be arranged. Then, when they came to the strand, the king summoned his household Thing, and told them his purpose. But he sent men of his own up to the heath where the battlefield was appointed; these were to take camping-ground, and make all ready before the army came. But when she came to the king, she said: 'Will anything, my lord, avail to reconcile thee with Thorolf? His own division he first arranged, and in the van thereof he set those companies that were the smartest. Grim was swarthy, ill-favoured, like his father both in face and mind; he became a good man of business; skilful was he in wood and iron, an excellent smith. 'But in the morning,' said he, 'when it is light, we must search all the island and slay the man.'. I shall at once let you have silver, when I know you need it; but I know that you still have in your keeping one or two chests full of silver. Then the messengers begged king Olaf to give them time to go back to king Athelstan, and try if he would pay yet more money to ensure peace. ', Hildirida's sons had been that winter with king Harold, and in their company twelve men of their own household and neighbours. And where Bjorn's party had their booths is still called Bjorn's home-field. There they parted, and Steinar went home. Egil abode with king Athelstan for the next winter after Thorolf's death, and had very great honour from the king. Ere the giver of conquest, Home to my hand is given But king Olaf's second division moved near the wood against the force under Thorolf. But the truth is, O king, that though thou hadst somewhat less force than those who met thee, yet the farmer folk took flight when they saw thy fleet. Many get great honour from thee to whom less is due, and who are not nearly so accomplished as is he in every kind of skill. The character of Egill is complex and full of seeming contradictions. Up on land there Thorstein had estates, and also inwards as far as Raumarik. Hkon denied Egill's claim, so Arinbjrn compensated Egill with forty marks of silver. Arinbjorn was desirous of this match. The king ordered his men to disembark and his standard to be raised. It is also told that he went to Denmark, and harried there far and wide. After this Thordis went to speak with Grim and told him Egil's plan. And so it was that one day they were sailing off the east coast of Shetland during a gale, and brake their ship in making land at Moss-ey. He and Egil went in with half of his followers, but the other half stood without before the door. Thorir received the king's son joyfully. The king went round the ship and looked at men's wounds; and when he saw a man binding a surface-wound, he said: 'Thorolf gave not that wound; his weapon bites far otherwise; few, methinks, bind the wounds which he gave; and great loss have we in such men.'. (. Perish'd on one pinnace I will find men to take charge of the province and foster the maidens.'. My sister's son hath failed me. The boy told them where the bear was. There were two roads through the wood. With more than 1,700titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines.

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