Laxdaela Saga

LAXDAELA SAGA

TRANSLATED FROM THE ICELANDIC

BY MURIEL A. C. PRESS

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. OF KETILL FLATNOSE AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 9TH CENTURY A.D.

CHAPTER II. KETILL AND HIS SONS PREPARE TO LEAVE NORWAY

CHAPTER III. KETILL'S SONS GO TO ICELAND

CHAPTER IV. KETILL GOES TO SCOTLAND, A.D. 890

CHAPTER V. UNN GOES TO ICELAND, A.D. 895

CHAPTER VI. UNN DIVIDES HER LAND

CHAPTER VII. OF THE WEDDING OF OLAF FEILAN, A.D. 920

CHAPTER VIII. THE BIRTH OF HRUT AND THORGERD'S SECOND WIDOWHOOD, A.D. 923

CHAPTER IX. HOSKULD'S MARRIAGE, A.D. 935

CHAPTER X. OF VIGA HRAPP

CHAPTER XI. ABOUT THORD GODDI AND THORBJORN SKRJUP

CHAPTER XII. HOSKULD BUYS A SLAVE WOMAN

CHAPTER XIII. HOSKULD RETURNS TO ICELAND, A.D. 948

CHAPTER XIV. THE MURDER OF HALL, INGJALD'S BROTHER

CHAPTER XV. THOROLF'S ESCAPE WITH ASGAUT THE THRALL

CHAPTER XVI. THORD BECOMES OLAF'S FOSTER FATHER, A.D. 950

CHAPTER XVII. ABOUT VIGA HRAPP'S GHOST, A.D. 950

CHAPTER XVIII. OF THE DROWNING OF THORSTEIN SWART

CHAPTER XIX. HRUT COMES TO ICELAND

CHAPTER XX. MELKORKA'S MARRIAGE AND OLAF THE PEACOCK'S JOURNEY, A.D. 955

CHAPTER XXI. OLAF THE PEACOCK GOES TO IRELAND, A.D. 955

CHAPTER XXII. OLAF THE PEACOCK COMES HOME TO ICELAND, A.D. 957

CHAPTER XXIII. THE MARRIAGE OF OLAF PEACOCK AND THORGERD, THE DAUGHTER OF EGIL, A.D. 959

CHAPTER XXIV. THE BUILDING OF HERDHOLT, A. D. 960

CHAPTER XXV. ABOUT HOSKULD'S SONS

CHAPTER XXVI. THE DEATH OF HOSKULD, A.D. 985

CHAPTER XXVII. THE FUNERAL FEAST FOR HOSKULD

CHAPTER XXVIII. THE BIRTH OF KJARTAN, OLAF'S SON, A.D. 978

CHAPTER XXIX. OLAF'S SECOND JOURNEY TO NORWAY, A.D. 975

CHAPTER XXX. ABOUT GIERMUND AND THURED, A.D. 978

CHAPTER XXXI. THURED'S SECOND MARRIAGE, A.D. 980

CHAPTER XXXII. OF OSVIF HELGESON

CHAPTER XXXIII. OF GEST ODDLEIFSON AND GUDRUN'S DREAMS

CHAPTER XXXIV. GUDRUN'S FIRST MARRIAGE, A.D. 989

CHAPTER XXXV. GUDRUN'S SECOND MARRIAGE, A.D. 991

CHAPTER XXXVII. ABOUT HRUT AND ELDGRIM, A.D. 995

CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE DEATH OF STIGANDI. THORLIEK LEAVES ICELAND

CHAPTER XXXIX. OF KJARTAN'S FRIENDSHIP FOR BOLLI

CHAPTER XL. KJARTAN AND BOLLI VOYAGE TO NORWAY, A.D. 996

CHAPTER XLI. BOLLI RETURNS TO ICELAND, A.D. 999

CHAPTER XLII. BOLLI MAKES LOVE TO GUDRUN, A.D. 1000

CHAPTER XLIII. KJARTAN COMES BACK TO ICELAND, A.D. 1001

CHAPTER XLIV. KJARTAN COMES HOME, A.D. 1001

CHAPTER XLV. KJARTAN MARRIES HREFNA, A.D. 1002

CHAPTER XLVI. FEAST AT HERDHOLT AND THE LOSS OF KJARTAN'S SWORD, A.D. 1002

CHAPTER XLVII. KJARTAN GOES TO LAUGAR, AND OF THE BARGAIN FOR TONGUE, A.D. 1003

CHAPTER XLVIII. THE MEN OF LAUGAR AND GUDRUN PLAN AN AMBUSH FOR KJARTAN, A.D. 1003

CHAPTER XLIX. THE DEATH OF KJARTAN

CHAPTER L. THE END OF HREFNA. THE PEACE SETTLED, A.D. 1003

CHAPTER LI. OSVIF'S SONS ARE BANISHED

CHAPTER LII. THE KILLING OF THORKELL OF GOAT'S PEAK

CHAPTER LIII. THORGERD'S EGGING, A.D. 1007

CHAPTER LIV. HALLDOR PREPARES TO AVENGE KJARTAN

CHAPTER LV. THE DEATH OF BOLLI

CHAPTER LVI. BOLLI BOLLISON IS BORN, A.D. 1008

CHAPTER LVII. ABOUT THORGILS HALLASON, A.D. 1018

CHAPTER LVIII. THORKELL AND GRIM, AND THEIR VOYAGE ABROAD

CHAPTER LXI. OF THORSTEIN THE BLACK AND LAMBI

CHAPTER LXII. THORGILS AND HIS FOLLOWERS LEAVE HOME

CHAPTER LXIII. THE DESCRIPTION OF HIS ENEMIES BROUGHT TO HELGI

CHAPTER LXIV. THE DEATH OF HELGI, A.D. 1019

CHAPTER LXV. OF GUDRUN'S DECEIT

CHAPTER LXVI. OSVIF AND GEST DIE

CHAPTER LXVII. THE DEATH OF THORGILS HALLASON, A.D. 1020

CHAPTER LXVIII. GUDRUN'S MARRIAGE WITH THORKELL EYJOLFSON

CHAPTER LXIX. THE QUARREL ABOUT GUNNAR AT THE FEAST

CHAPTER LXXI. THE PEACE BETWEEN THE SONS OF BOLLI AND THE SONS OF OLAF, A.D. 1026

CHAPTER LXXII. Bolli and Thorleik go abroad, A. D. 1029

CHAPTER LXXIII. BOLLI'S VOYAGE

CHAPTER LXXIV. THORKELL EYJOLFSON GOES TO NORWAY

CHAPTER LXXV. THORKELL AND THORSTEIN AND HALLDOR OLAFSON, A.D. 1026

CHAPTER LXXVI. THE DROWNING OF THORKELL, A.D. 1026

CHAPTER LXXVII. THE RETURN OF BOLLI, A.D. 1030

CHAPTER LXXVIII. THE DEATH OF SNORRI, AND THE END, A.D. 1031

NOTE

THE LAXDAELA SAGA

CHAPTER I. OF KETILL FLATNOSE AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 9TH CENTURY A.D.

Ketill Flatnose was the name of a man. He was the son of Bjorn the Ungartered. Ketill was a mighty and high-born chieftain (hersir) in Norway. He abode in Raumsdale, within the folkland of the Raumsdale people, which lies between Southmere and Northmere. Ketill Flatnose had for wife Yngvild, daughter of Ketill Wether, who was a man of exceeding great worth. They had five children; one was named Bjorn the Eastman, and another Helgi Bjolan. Thorunn the Horned was the name of one of Ketill's daughters, who was the wife of Helgi the Lean, son of Eyvind Eastman, and Rafarta, daughter of Kjarval, the Irish king. Unn the Deep-minded was another of Ketill's daughters, and was the wife of Olaf the White, son of Ingjald, who was son of Frodi the Valiant, who was slain by the Svertlings. Jorunn, Men's Wit-breaker, was the name of yet another of Ketill's daughters. She was the mother of Ketill the Finn, who settled on land at Kirkby. His son was Asbjorn, father of Thorstein, father of Surt, the father of Sighat the Speaker-at-Law.

CHAPTER II. KETILL AND HIS SONS PREPARE TO LEAVE NORWAY

In the latter days of Ketill arose the power of King Harald the Fairhaired, in such a way that no folkland king or other great men could thrive in the land unless he alone ruled what title should be theirs. When Ketill heard that King Harald was minded to put to him the same choice as to other men of might—namely, not only to put up with his kinsmen being left unatoned, but to be made himself a hireling to boot—he calls together a meeting of his kinsmen, and began his speech in this wise: You all know what dealings there have been between me and King Harald, the which there is no need of setting forth; for a greater need besets us, to wit, to take counsel as to the troubles that now are in store for us. I have true news of King Harald's enmity towards us, and to me it seems that we may abide no trust from that quarter. It seems to me that there are two choices left us, either to fly the land or to be slaughtered each in his own seat. Now, as for me, my will is rather to abide the same death that my kinsmen suffer, but I would not lead you by my willfulness into so great a trouble, for I know the temper of my kinsmen and friends, that ye would not desert me, even though it would be some trial of manhood to follow me. Bjorn, the son of Ketill, answered: I will make known my wishes at once. I will follow the example of noble men, and fly this land. For I deem myself no greater a man by abiding at home the thralls of King Harald, that they may chase me away from my own possessions, or that else I may have to come by utter death at their hands. At this there was made a good cheer, and they all thought it was spoken bravely. This counsel then was settled, that they should leave the country, for the sons of Ketill urged it much, and no one spoke against it. Bjorn and Helgi wished to go to Iceland, for they said they had heard many pleasing news thereof. They had been told that there was good land to be had there, and no need to pay money for it; they said there was plenty of whale and salmon and other fishing all the year round there. But Ketill said, Into that fishing place I shall never come in my old age. So Ketill then told his mind, saying his desire was rather to go west over the sea, for there was a chance of getting a good livelihood. He knew lands there wide about, for there he had harried far and wide.

CHAPTER III. KETILL'S SONS GO TO ICELAND

After that Ketill made a great feast, and at it he married his daughter Thorunn the Horned to Helgi the Lean, as has been said before. After that Ketill arrayed his journey west over the sea. Unn, his daughter, and many others of his relations went with him. That same summer Ketill's sons went to Iceland with Helgi, their brother-in-law. Bjorn, Ketill's son, brought his ship to the west coast of Iceland, to Broadfirth, and sailed up the firth along the southern shore, till he came to where a bay cuts into the land, and a high mountain stood on the ness on the inner side of the bay, but an island lay a little way off the land. Bjorn said that they should stay there for a while. Bjorn then went on land with a few men, and wandered along the coast, and but a narrow strip of land was there between fell and foreshore. This spot he thought suitable for habitation. Bjorn found the pillars of his temple washed up in a certain creek, and he thought that showed where he ought to build his house. Afterwards Bjorn took for himself all the land between Staff-river and Lavafirth, and abode in the place that ever after was called Bjornhaven. He was called Bjorn the Eastman. His wife, Gjaflaug, was the daughter of Kjallak the Old. Their sons were Ottar and Kjallak, whose son was Thorgrim, the father of Fight-Styr and Vermund, but the daughter of Kjallak was named Helga, who was the wife of Vestar of Eyr, son of Thorolf Bladder-skull, who settled Eyr. Their son was Thorlak, father of Steinthor of Eyr. Helgi Bjolan brought his ship to the south of the land, and took all Keelness, between Kollafirth and Whalefirth, and lived at Esjuberg to old age. Helgi the Lean brought his ship to the north of the land, and took Islefirth, all along between Mastness and Rowanness, and lived at Kristness. From Helgi and Thornunn all the Islefirthers are sprung.

CHAPTER IV. KETILL GOES TO SCOTLAND, A.D. 890

Ketill Flatnose brought his ship to Scotland, and was well received by the great men there; for he was a renowned man, and of high birth. They offered him there such station as he would like to take, and Ketill and his company of kinsfolk settled down there—all except Thorstein, his daughter's son, who forthwith betook himself to warring, and harried Scotland far and wide, and was always victorious. Later on he made peace with the Scotch, and got for his own one-half  of Scotland. He had for wife Thurid, daughter of Eyvind, and sister of Helgi the Lean. The Scotch did not keep the peace long, but treacherously murdered him. Ari Thorgil's son the Wise, writing of his death, says that he fell in Caithness. Unn the Deep-minded was in Caithness when her son Thorstein fell. When she heard that Thorstein was dead, and her father had breathed his last, she deemed she would have no prospering in store there. So she had a ship built secretly in a wood, and when it was ready built she arrayed it, and had great wealth withal; and she took with her all her kinsfolk who were left alive; and men deem that scarce may an example be found that any one, a woman only, has ever got out of such a state of war with so much wealth and so great a following. From this it may be seen how peerless among women she was. Unn had with her many men of great worth and high birth. A man named Koll was one of the worthiest amongst her followers, chiefly owing to his descent, he being by title a Hersir. There was also in the journey with Unn a man named Hord, and he too was also a man of high birth and of great worth. When she was ready, Unn took her ship to the Orkneys; there she stayed a little while, and there she married off Gro, the daughter of Thorstein the Red. She was the mother of Greilad, who married Earl Thorfinn, the son of Earl Turf-Einar, son of Rognvald Mere-Earl. Their son was Hlodvir, the father of Earl Sigurd, the father of Earl Thorfinn, and from them come all the kin of the Orkney Earls. After that Unn steered her ship to the Faroe Isles, and stayed there for some time. There she married off another daughter of Thorstein, named Olof, and from her sprung the noblest race of that land, who are called the Gate-Beards.

CHAPTER V. UNN GOES TO ICELAND, A.D. 895

Unn now got ready to go away from the Faroe Isles, and made it known to her shipmates that she was going to Iceland. She had with her Olaf Feilan, the son of Thorstein, and those of his sisters who were unmarried. After that she put to sea, and, the weather being favourable, she came with her ship to the south of Iceland to Pumice-Course (Vikrarskeid). There they had their ship broken into splinters, but all the men and goods were saved. After that she went to find Helgi, her brother, followed by twenty men; and when she came there he went out to meet her, and bade her come stay with him with ten of her folk. She answered in anger, and said she had not known that he was such a churl; and she went away, being minded to find Bjorn, her brother in Broadfirth, and when he heard she was coming, he went to meet her with many followers, and greeted her warmly, and invited her and all her followers to stay with him, for he knew his sister's high-mindedness. She liked that right well, and thanked him for his lordly behaviour. She stayed there all the winter, and was entertained in the grandest manner, for there was no lack of means, and money was not spared. In the spring she went across Broadfirth, and came to a certain ness, where they ate their mid-day meal, and since that it has been called Daymealness, from whence Middlefell-strand stretches (eastward). Then she steered her ship up Hvammfirth and came to a certain ness, and stayed there a little while. There Unn lost her comb, so it was afterwards called Combness. Then she went about all the Broadfirth-Dales, and took to her lands as wide as she wanted. After that Unn steered her ship to the head of the bay, and there her high-seat pillars were washed ashore, and then she deemed it was easy to know where she was to take up her abode. She had a house built there: it was afterwards called Hvamm, and she lived there. The same spring as Unn set up household at Hvamm, Koll married Thorgerd, daughter of Thorstein the Red. Unn gave, at her own cost, the bridal-feast, and let Thorgerd have for her dowry all Salmonriver-Dale; and Koll set up a household there on the south side of the Salmon-river. Koll was a man of the greatest mettle: their son was named Hoskuld.

CHAPTER VI. UNN DIVIDES HER LAND

After that Unn gave to more men parts of her land-take. To Hord she gave all Hord-Dale as far as Skramuhlaups River. He lived at Hordabolstad (Hord-Lair-Stead), and was a man of the greatest mark, and blessed with noble offspring. His son was Asbjorn the Wealthy, who lived in Ornolfsdale, at Asbjornstead, and had to wife Thorbjorg, daughter of Midfirth-Skeggi. Their daughter was Ingibjorg, who married Illugi the Black, and their sons were Hermund and Gunnlaug Worm-tongue. They are called the Gilsbecking-race. Unn spoke to her men and said: Now you shall be rewarded for all your work, for now I do not lack means with which to pay each one of you for your toil and good-will. You all know that I have given the man named Erp, son of Earl Meldun, his freedom, for far away was it from my wish that so high-born a man should bear the name of thrall. Afterwards Unn gave him the lands of Sheepfell, between Tongue River and Mid River. His children were Orm and Asgeir, Gunbjorn, and Halldis, whom Alf o' Dales had for wife. To Sokkolf Unn gave Sokkolfsdale, where he abode to old age. Hundi was the name of one of her freedmen. He was of Scottish kin. To him she gave Hundidale. Osk was the name of the fourth daughter of Thorstein the Red. She was the mother of Thorstein Swart, the Wise, who found the Summer eeke. Thorhild was the name of a fifth daughter of Thorstein. She was the mother of Alf o' Dales, and many great men trace back their line of descent to him. His daughter was Thorgerd, wife of Ari Marson of Reekness, the son of Atli, the son of Ulf the Squinter and Bjorg, Eyvond's daughter, the sister of Helgi the Lean. From them come all the Reeknessings. Vigdis was the name of the sixth daughter of Thorstein the Red. From her come the men of Headland of Islefirth.

CHAPTER VII. OF THE WEDDING OF OLAF FEILAN, A.D. 920

Olaf Feilan was the youngest of Thorstein's children. He was a tall man and strong, goodly to look at, and a man of the greatest mettle. Unn loved him above all men, and made it known to people that she was minded to settle on Olaf all her belongings at Hvamm after her day. Unn now became very weary with old age, and she called Olaf Feilan to her and said: It is on my mind, kinsman, that you should settle down and marry. Olaf took this well, and said he would lean on her foresight in that matter. Unn said: It is chiefly in my mind that your wedding-feast should be held at the end of the summer, for that is the easiest time to get in all the means needed, for to me it seems a near guess that our friends will come hither in great numbers, and I have made up my mind that this shall be the last bridal feast arrayed by me. Olaf answered: That is well spoken; but such a woman alone I mean to take to wife who shall rob thee neither of wealth nor rule (over thine own). That same summer Olaf Feilan married Alfdis. Their wedding was at Hvamm. Unn spent much money on this feast, for she let be bidden thereto men of high degree wide about from other parts. She invited Bjorn and Helgi Bjolan, her brothers, and they came with many followers. There came Koll o' Dales, her kinsman-in-law, and Hord of Hord-Dale, and many other great men. The wedding feast was very crowded; yet there did not come nearly so many as Unn had asked, because the Islefirth people had such a long way to come. Old age fell now fast upon Unn, so that she did not get up till mid-day, and went early to bed. No one did she allow to come to her for advice between the time she went to sleep at night and the time she was aroused, and she was very angry if any one asked how it fared with her strength. On this day Unn slept somewhat late; yet she was on foot when the guests came, and went to meet them and greeted her kinsfolk and friends with great courtesy, and said they had shown their affection to her in coming hither from so far, and I specially name for this Bjorn and Helgi, but I wish to thank you all who are here assembled. After that Unn went into the hall and a great company with her, and when all seats were taken in the hall, everyone was much struck by the lordliness of the feast. Then Unn said: Bjorn and Helgi, my brothers, and all my other kindred and friends, I call witnesses to this, that this dwelling with all its belongings that you now see before you, I give into the hands of my kinsman, Olaf, to own and to manage. After that Unn stood up and said she would go to the bower where she was wont to sleep, but bade everyone have for pastime whatever was most to his mind, and that ale should be the cheer of the common folk. So the tale goes, that Unn was a woman both tall and portly. She walked at a quick step out along the hall, and people could not help saying to each other how stately the lady was yet. They feasted that evening till they thought it time to go to bed. But the day after Olaf went to the sleeping bower of Unn, his grandmother, and when he came into the chamber there was Unn sitting up against her pillow, and she was dead. Olaf went into the hall after that and told these tidings. Everyone thought it a wonderful thing, how Unn had upheld her dignity to the day of her death. So they now drank together Olaf's wedding and Unn's funeral honours, and the last day of the feast Unn was carried to the howe (burial mound) that was made for her. She was laid in a ship in the cairn, and much treasure with her, and after that the cairn was closed up. Then Olaf Feilan took over the household of Hvamm and all charge of the wealth there, by the advice of his kinsmen who were there. When the feast came to an end Olaf gave lordly gifts to the men most held in honour before they went away. Olaf became a mighty man and a great chieftain. He lived at Hvamm to old age. The children of Olaf and Alfdis were Thord Yeller, who married Hrodny, daughter of Midfirth Skeggi; and their sons were, Eyjolf