He thrust Bard right through the middle with the sword, so that the point went out at the back. ', Aki said there was no lack of chattels. Thorfinn said: 'Here passed six men together a little before day; and they were well armed. ', 'I am not sure,' said Steinar, 'that I will so abandon my cause; for I have already sought me the help of great men. XHTML | Strength that may strive Egil had there bought much wood, which he was having conveyed home by water: for this his house-carles went, taking with them an eight-oared boat belonging to Egil. The steersman was named Thorir Thruma; he was a steward of king Harold's, manager of his farm at Thruma, a large farm in which the king used to make a long stay when he was in Vik. They had this to tell, that Egil had put out and sailed to sea, and was gone. Exulting spearmen shine. Strife with the royal house drive the family out of the country, and they settle in Iceland. Thorolf and his company had a large long-ship well equipt, and went on their way as had been agreed. Translated from the Icelandic with an introduction, notes and an essay, this is the first time Eddisons version of this epic heroic saga has been made available as a digital book. Thus Brynjolf got atonement accepted for Bjorn, and Skallagrim's messengers abode with Thorir for the winter. 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. Now though thou wilt give no decision that may help Onund, yet will not I brook this, that Egil tread under foot our friends and wrongfully take the property from Onund. Thus the ships were parted. 'And I care little,' said he, 'for Thorolf's money loss in this, if worse does not come after; but I misdoubt, as before, that Thorolf will not rightly rate his own means against the stronger power with which he has to deal.'. The wind, willow-render, Earneth well his honours: Egil asked many questions, and Alf told him what he asked. Egil's Saga tells the story of the long and brutal life of tenth-century warrior-poet and farmer Egill Skallagrmsson: a morally ambiguous character who was at once the composer of intricately beautiful poetry, and a physical grotesque capable of staggering brutality. There were cattle on it, both sheep and oxen, belonging to Atla-isle. Of all his guard the king most prized his skalds; they occupied the second high seat. This offer was well received and favourable answered, and so it came about that Bard was betrothed to the maiden. Einar Helgi's son the poet was nicknamed Skala-glam. Rent sore with deathful wound.'. King over parts of Norway, Harald was not dead. 'They are all,' said he, 'overbearing men, who know no measure, and care not with whom they have to deal. Thorolf was of a right cheery mood. They were there through the winter with twelve men. They parted friends; and Egil going on his way came on the evening of a day to earl Arnvid's court, where he found a good reception. Then Steinar turned to regain the bank (for he saw not that Thorstein had ridden by). He stuck the sword-point within the round of the ring, and drew it to him; then he went back to his place. Hadd, his brother, was now there with him. 'Then I see,' said Steinar, 'that you mean to guard your land with the strong hand, since you have slain my two thralls: yet methinks this is no great exploit. He begged father and son to give him some land out there on the Moors. Egil Skallagrimsson heard these tidings of the change of kings in Norway, and therewith how Arinbjorn had returned to his estates in Norway, and was there in great honour. Now Egil, before going to the Thing, had had his ship launched and the cargo put on board. Thorolf served the king well, but suspicion fell on him due to his becoming overly successful, exacerbated by words of slanderers. And in that time Iceland was found. Nor will I then make any distinction of persons, titled or untitled. They then continued their journey. Thorgeir dwelt on Swan-ness at Lambstead. "With fare far more worthy Steinar asked his help, and offered him money. And when Thorstein Egil's son came to dwell at Borg, there was at once a coolness between him and Steinar. I will repay you your hospitality as you deserve.'. Brynjolf resolved to go, and with him Bard his son; and in the autumn they went southwards to Throndheim, and there met the king. 'Then must I myself go to him,' said Thorolf. Hack we shield with falchion, Aki answered, they would like it much. Toiled each morning Bard bade him drink and stop that jeering. Frodi's flour of gold Friendly gifts of many kinds gave Arinbjorn at Yule to those who were his guests, for Arinbjorn was beyond all men open-handed and noble. Bergljt Kristjnsdttir and Svanhildur skarsdttir (eds), Book: Green, W. C. . Of dark spell full many Helgi was father of Brynjolf, father of Serk, Sogn, and Svein. Gunnhilda was above all women beautiful and shrewd, and of magic cunning. Then Eyvind jumped up, drew a sword, and thrust at Thorvald, dealing him a wound that was his death. Even so it was with Kveldulf. Skallagrim asked Oleif and all his company to his house for lodging. Of Arinbjorn, So then Egil and his men doffed their cloaks and all their loose clothing, and laid these on the sledge. Did you not know what friendship was between me and Thorir? Swooping vulture's beak doth tear.'. Then the king made them row to other islands and seek him. 'Erewhile the anger And though Egil has done great wrong against thee, yet look thou on this, that he has suffered much from thee and thy kin. The king accepted his greeting, and bade them serve him with drink. Thorgils Yeller was standing near; he made a sweep with his sword at Thorgeir, and cut off his hand along with the fence-stake. He sang: 'Olaf one earl by furious Thorir bade him be with him. [25] [26] These poems are also meant to honor the two. The sagas are prose histories describing events that took place amongst the Norse and Celtic inhabitants of Iceland during the period of the Icelandic Commonwealth in the 10th and 11th centuries CE. Nor wentest where sword-edges This Egil accepted. Thy folk due silence keep. Skallagrim came home about midnight, and then went to his place and lay down in his clothes. 'Sire, mark the tale I tell, The owner of that farm was a powerful and wealthy man; he had a son grown up. I hope thou wilt let him get good from my words, for I think it a matter of great moment to me that Egil gain terms from thee. Thou owest far more duty to king Eric than to Egil. So then Egil began the poem, and this is the beginning. There was fought a great battle, with much slaughter in either host. The feast was to be at Bjorn's in the autumn. Then he gave Thorgils a rowing-cutter with tackling complete, a tent also, and provisions, and all things needful for their journey. No easy way had he over the moor, for he did not know the road; but he kept his eyes on the riders before him when copse or wood were not in the way. Egil shall live this night. So the king gave them leave. Guttorm had two sons and two daughters. But then others mediated between them, and the end was that Thorolf took Egil, and he went out with him that summer. But when it was dark, and now flood-tide, Egil came where the ship lay. Glittering armlets rives: He was governor of the Firth folk. There was a man named Einar. None with his axe-hand Soon after this Thorolf started with a long-ship and about sixty men, and coasted northwards, till one day at eventide he came to Sandness in Alost; there they moored the ship. Of king's true deeds, From arm beset with rings, 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. You have done to death my two brothers, and far shall I be from upholding the right if I yield to you mine own possessions unlawfully rather than fight with you when you offer me this choice.'. 'Me hath the main And since Egil knew that Grim was a wealthy man and the match was a good one, it was so settled, and Thordis was given to Grim. For few be the bounteous He married Thora, daughter of lord Thorir, sister of Arinbjorn. egils saga sparknotes. Foul worker of mischief: Streams the battle-tide. But when they came to the play-meeting, then the men made up sides for the play. Should thwart my rede: 'But I know not,' he said, 'what they have since done with it, whether they brought it to the king or ran away with it out of the land. Egil went on southwards to Hordaland, taking for this journey a rowing vessel, and thereon thirty men. They stopped therefore and rested. Bretland was governed by two brothers, Hring and Adils; they were tributaries under king Athelstan, and withal had this right, that when they were with the king in the field, they and their force should be in the van of the battle before the royal standard. But many fled abroad from this tyranny, and much waste land was then colonized far and wide, both eastwards in Jamtaland and Helsingjaland, and also the West lands, the Southern isles, Dublin in Ireland, Caithness in Scotland, and Shetland. But if you do not believe this that I say, go and see for yourself the trail, and then turn back, if it seems as I tell you.' Far-comers worse would fare. Made for wolf a meal, Buy. They begged the king's leave that they two brothers might go with their usual following and attack Thorolf in his home. Egil said: 'That will be mere nonsense. Egil said it was quite as well, though they should seek some other place. Laurence de Looze, Jn Karl Helgason, Russell Poole and Torfi H. Tulinius (eds.). At that time these were a great lair of freebooters, because through the islands sailed many merchant-ships. His own men held their shields before them; they trusted to the wood which was on their right to cover that side. They were of his company this winter, and sate next to the two brothers. First they asked where they had come to land. Forward Egil pressed, and hewed on either hand of him, felling many men. ', Then the king looked round, and saw over men's heads where Egil stood. All through the summer Kveldulf and Skallagrim kept a look-out shorewards on the highway of vessels. He took then the skull of Egil, and set it on the churchyard fence. Five escaped, all sore wounded, but three fell there. They rowed into Herdla, and sent a man up into the island to learn tidings; and when he came down to the ship, he said that there at the farm was Rognvald, the king's son, and his men. A wood to bloom leafy 'So it is,' said Thorstein, 'that I slew last summer your thrall, whom you set to feed cattle on my land, but afterwards let you have the feed as you would up to the winter. Thorolf answered thus: 'The king will not believe this, though such lies be laid before him; for there are no grounds for my turning traitor to him, when he has done me much good and no evil. He who answered named himself Aki. He can be vicious, absurd, infantile, pathetic, but he is never dull, and though we may not like some of the things he does we are never allowed to settle into a fixed attitude towards him." What do you mean to do with that money? Brynjolf showed him ill-pleased at this business. Such present to send.'. And when he saw where Bergonund was, he unsheathed his sword, and, taking the coil of cord attached to the hilt, would it round his arm, and so let the sword hang. His reactions are usually on a grand scale to the point where they are often outrageous and entertaining. For vulture flapping near. A great wonder now is this in Egil, that he thinks to make void all the words of king Eric. Egil in the summer made ready his merchant-ship and got thereto a crew. Then Egil saw that nothing would be done this way, for his shield was now rendered useless. When the roll of Harold's army was called, many were they that had fallen, and many were sore wounded. Egil said: 'I would fain, good fellow, you should go into the hall and ask Arinbjorn whether he will rather speak without or within to Egil Skallagrimsson. Thorstein was there with his train; he had there chief authority as to the rules of the Thing, for so it had been while Egil held priesthood and headship. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Egil's Saga". Whereat the king looked sullen, but he spoke little; these men, he said, were proud, or what were they aiming at? Then Egil paid over to her her father's heritage, and she went home with Grim, and the pair dwelt long at Moss-fell. But when Thorolf came north to Torgar, he was well received. Eric's sounding name. Of race divine. Then sang Egil: 'In struggle sternly hard And Egil sang: 'Free-handed gold-giver, It now happened that Steinar in the early part of the winter went out to Snfell-strand and stayed there awhile. He gave him withal the right of journey to the Finns, with the king's business on the fells and the Finn traffic. Arinbjorn thanked the king with many fair words for the honour and friendship that he had shown him. But just when Egil was ready, Skallagrim went out with him, and embracing him before he mounted said: 'You are late, methinks, Egil, in paying to me that money which king Athelstan sent me. They went back that day to their own company, and met Thorolf. But in that same summer when Egil had come to England these tidings were heard from Norway, that Eric Allwise was dead, but the king's stewards had taken his inheritance, and claimed it for the king. Lord Thorir went in the autumn to king Eric. When he came to the hall-door, he dismounted from his horse, and found a man to speak to. Is blest with store Up leapt the liers-in-wait and made at them, and they met their charge: and the encounter ended in Egil's slaying two and the rest running back into the wood. Then spake the earl: 'I deem it not safe for us to enter the town. Egil's Saga tells the story of the long and brutal life of tenth-century warrior-poet and farmer Egil Skallagrimsson: a morally ambiguous character who was at once the composer of intricately beautiful poetry, and a physical grotesque capable of staggering brutality. He bade them bring him a horse. 'Hard am I beset; ', 'Unfriendly, who was friend, The king looked at them, and answered curtly: 'I will not grant you this; ye shall be here with me.'.