Egil’s Saga - E. Eddison R.

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after. Thorolf was far beyond those of like age with him in strength: and when he waxed up, he became a master-man in most of those feats that it was then the wont of men to perform, of them that were men of doughty deeds. Thorolf was a very glad man. Early was he so far come to his full strength that he was deemed fit to accompany with other men of full age. Soon was he well loved of the folk. Right fond of him too were his father and mother.

      Skallagrim and his wife had two daughters: the one was named Saeunn and the other Thorunn. They too were lasses of good make in their upgrowing.

      Yet again had Skallagrim and his wife a son. That one was sprinkled with water and a name given him, and was called Egil. But when he waxed up, then might it soon be seen of him that he would be exceeding ugly and like his father, black of hair. And when he was three winters old, then was he great and strong, even as those other boys that were six winters old or seven. He was soon a chatterbox, and skilled in words. Something ill to deal with he was, when he was at play with other young folk.

      That spring fared Yngvar to Burg, and this was his errand, that he-bade Skallagrim to a bidding, out there at his own place, and named for that journey Bera his daughter and Thorolf her son, and any men else that she and Skallagrim would have go. Skallagrim promised he would come. Fared Yngvar then home, and made ready against the feast and let brew ale then. But when it came to the day appointed, when Skallagrim should fare to the bidding and Bera with him, then Thorolf made him ready for the journey along with them, and housecarles, so that they were fifteen together.

      Egil talked of this with his father, that he would go too: “I have as much to say to them there as Thorolf,” saith he.

      “Thou shalt not go,” saith Skallagrim; “because thou knowest not how to behave thyself in a throng of folk, where there be great drinkings. They think thee not good to do with, though thou be not drunk.”

      Then went Skallagrim a-horseback and rode away.

      But Egil was ill content with his lot. He went out of the garth and found a certain draught-horse that Skallagrim had: fared a-back of him, and rode after Skallagrim and his. It was uneasy going for him through the marshes because he knew not the way, but yet he saw very often the riding of Skallagrim and his, when neither holt nor woodland blocked his sight.

      There is that to tell of his journey, that late in the evening came he to Alptaness, then when men sate there a-drinking. Went he into the hall. But when Yngvar saw Egil, he took to him kindly, and asked why he was come so late. Egil said what Skallagrim and he had talked about. Yngvar sat Egil down by his side. Sat they over against Skallagrim and Thorolf. That was their way there at ale-quaffings that men quoth staves. Then quoth Egil a stave:2

      Come am I hale to hearthstone

      Of Yngvar, he that giveth To lads the glittering ling-thong’s Bed, (lief would I find him!) Scarce shalt thou, O lavisher Of the light-encircl’d worm-lands, Find a three-year-old ode-smith Better than me.

      Yngvar made much of that stave, and thanked Egil well for the stave; and the day after, then brought Yngvar to Egil, for skaldship’s guerdon, three sea-snail shells and a duck’s egg. But the day after that, at their drinking, Egil quoth another stave upon his guerdon:3

      Wise herdsman of the wound-fowl,

      To wordy Egil gav’st thou Three ever-silent surf-dogs For song’s rewarding. And, steerer of the sea-steed, Still a fourth thing gav’st thou: Bed of the beck-partridge— Boon to gladden Egil!

      Egil laid up for himself thanks for his skaldship with many men. There was nought else to tell of in their journey; fared Egil home with Skallagrim.

      BIORN was named a mighty hersir in Sogn, who dwelt at Aurland. His son was Bryniolf, who took all the inheritance after his father. The sons of Bryniolf were Biorn and Thord: they were men in their youthful age when these things betided.1

      Biorn was a great man in sea-faring: was whiles a-viking, and whiles in cheaping voyages. Biorn was the ablest of men. That befell one summer, that Biorn was abiding in the Firths at a certain feast thronged with men. There saw he a fair maid, and great joy he took to gaze upon her. He asked after her, of what kindred she was. That was said to him, that she was sister to Thorir the Hersir, Hroald’s son, and was named Thora Jewel-hand. Biorn set forth his wooing and bade Thora in marriage, but Thorir denied him his suit, and they parted with things in such case.

      But that same autumn Biorn gathered him folk and fared with a cutter all manned north into the Firths and came to Thorir’s at such time that he was not at, home. Biorn took Thora away and had her home with him to Aurland. They were there winter-long, and Biorn would fain make his wedding with her.

      Bryniolf his father liked ill of that, that Biorn had done this shame unto Thorir, whereas before had long friendship been betwixt Thorir and Bryniolf: “So far shalt thou be, Biorn,” saith Bryniolf, “from wedding with Thora here in mine house without leave of Thorir her brother, that she shall here so well abide as if she were my very daughter, and sister of thine.”

      And so must needs be everything, even as Bryniolf would bespeak it there in his household, whether Biorn liked well of it or ill.

      Bryniolf sent men to Thorir to bid him atonement and redress for that journey Biorn had fared upon. Thorir bade Bryniolf send home Thora: said that no atonement might there be else. But Biorn would for no sake let her fare away, albeit Bryniolf bade this.

      So wore the winter. But when it began to be spring, then talked they, Bryniolf and Biorn, one day concerning what rede they should take. Bryniolf asked what he was minded for. Biorn said that was likeliest, that he would fare away out of the land: “That is nearest to my mind”, said he, “that thou find me a long-ship and a following therewith, and I fare a-viking.”

      “It is not to be thought of”, said Bryniolf, “that I should put in thine hands a war-ship and a great following, sith I know not but that thou’dst come down in that place of all places ’twould please me least to see thee in; and now, without that, stand we in more than enough unrest because of thee. A cheaping-ship will I put in thine hands, and therewith cheaping-wares. And fare thou then south to Dublin. That is now the best spoken of of voyages. I will find thee a good ship’s company.”

      So saith Biorn, that he needs must take it as Bryniolf would. Then let Bryniolf make ready a good cheaping-ship and found men thereto. Biorn made him ready then for that journey, and was not early ready.

      But when Biorn was all ready and a fair breeze set in, then stepped he aboard of a boat with twelve men and rowed in to Aurland, and they went up to the farmstead and to that bower which was his mother’s. She sat within there, and very many women. There was Thora.

      Biorn said that Thora must fare with him. They led her away, but his mother bade the women be not so bold as make them ware of this within-door in the hall: said that Bryniolf would take an ill thing in hand if he wist of this, and said that then would the way be cleared for great peril ’twixt that father and son. But Thora’s clothes and precious things were there all laid ready to hand, and Biorn and his had all that along with them. Fared they now by night out to their ship: hoisted sail forthwith, and sailed out down the Sogn-sea and thereafter into the main.

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