The Sagas of the Icelanders

by Smilely, Jane

  She said to Herdis, ‘Tell your grandmother that I care little for her company; she tosses and turns on top of me each night and pours over me tears so hot that I burn all over. I am telling you this because I prefer your company, although you have a strange air about you. All the same I could get along with you, if the distress caused me by Gudrun were not so great.’

  Herdis then awoke and told Gudrun her dream. Gudrun thought it was a revelation and the following morning she had the floorboards in the church removed at the spot where she was accustomed to kneel in prayer and the ground below dug up. There they found bones, which were blackened and horrible, along with a chest pendant and a large magician’s staff. People then decided that a prophetess must have been buried there. The bones were moved to a remote place little frequented by men.

  77 Four winters after the drowning of Thorkel Eyjolfsson, a ship owned by Bolli Bollason sailed into Eyjafjord. Most of the crew were Norwegians. Bolli had brought with him a great deal of wealth from abroad and many treasures given him by princes. He had become such a fine dresser by the time he returned from his journey abroad that he wore only clothes of scarlet or silk brocade and all his weapons were decorated with gold. He became known as Bolli the Elegant. He declared to his crew that he intended to go westward to visit his own district and left the ship and its cargo in their hands. He took eleven men with him, and all of them were dressed in clothes of scarlet and mounted on gilded saddles. They were all comely men, but Bolli was in a class by himself. He wore a suit of silk brocade given to him by the emperor of Byzantium, with a cloak of red scarlet outermost. About his waist he had girded the sword Leg-biter, now inlaid with gold at the top and shank, and gold bands wound about its hilt. On his head he wore a gilded helmet and he held a red shield at his side with the figure of a knight drawn on it in gold. He had a lance in his hand, as is common in foreign parts. Wherever the group stopped for the night, the women could do nothing but gaze at Bolli and the finery which he and his companions bore.

  In such style did Bolli ride westward, until he and his companions reached Helgafell, where Gudrun was delighted to receive her son. Bolli did not stay there long before riding to Saelingsdalstunga to his father-in-law, Snorri, and his wife Thordis. Their reunion was a joyous one. Snorri invited Bolli to stay there with as many of his companions as he wished and Bolli accepted. He and the men who had ridden south with him stayed with Snorri that winter. Bolli became renowned for this journey abroad. Snorri made no less effort to treat Bolli with great affection now than when he had stayed with him in former times.

  78 After Bolli had been a year in Iceland Snorri the Godi was taken ill. His illness advanced only slowly and Snorri lay abed for a lengthy time. When his illness had worsened he summoned his kinsmen and dependants.

  He then addressed Bolli, ‘It is my wish that you take over my farm and godord after me, as I wish to show you no less honour and affection than my own sons. The son of mine whom I expect to be foremost among them,, Halldor, is not in this country now.’

  Snorri then died, aged threescore years and seven, one year after the fall of King Olaf the Saint, according to the priest Ari the Learned. Snorri was buried at Tunga and Bolli and Thordis took over the farm at Tunga, as Snorri had requested. Snorri’s sons were not displeased, and Bolli became a highly capable and popular man.

  Herdis Bolladottir grew up at Helgafell and was the loveliest of women. Orm, the son of Hermund Illugason, asked for and received her hand in marriage. Their son Kodran married Gudrun Sigmundardottir, and Kodran’s son Hermund married Ulfheid, the daughter of Runolf, the son of Bishop Ketil. Their sons were Ketil, who became the abbot at Helgafell, Hrein, Kodran and Styrmir. Thorvor, the daughter of Herdis and Orm, was married to Skeggi Brandsson and their descendants are the people of Skogar.

  Bolli and Thordis had a son named Ospak, whose daughter Gudrun was married to Thorarin Brandsson. Their son Brand endowed the church at Husafell. His son Sighvat became a priest and lived there for a long time.

  Gellir Thorkelsson married Valgerd, the daughter of Thorgils Arason of Reykjanes. Gellir journeyed abroad and served with King Magnus the Good, receiving from him twelve ounces of gold and a great deal of additional wealth. Gellir’s sons were named Thorgils and Thorkel, and Ari the Learned was the son of Thorgils. Ari’s son was named Thorgils and his son was Ari the Strong.

  Gudrun was now well advanced in years and burdened with her grief, as was related earlier. She was the first woman in Iceland to become a nun and anchoress. It was also widely said that Gudrun was the most noble among women of her rank in this country.

  It is said that once when Bolli was visiting Helgafell, he sat with his mother, because Gudrun was always pleased when he came to see her, talking of many things for a long time.

  Then Bolli spoke: ‘Will you tell me something, Mother, that I’m curious to know? Which man did you love the most?’

  Gudrun answered: ‘Thorkel was the most powerful of men and most outstanding chieftain, but none of them was more valiant and accomplished than Bolli. Thord Ingunnarson was the wisest of these men and the most skilled in law. Of Thorvald I make no mention.’

  Bolli then spoke: ‘I understand clearly enough what you say of the qualities of each of your husbands, but you have yet to answer whom you loved the most. You’ve no need to conceal it any longer.’

  Gudrun answered, ‘You press me hard on this point, my son,’ she said. ‘If I wished to say this to anyone, you would be the one I would choose.’

  Bolli asked her to do so.

  Gudrun then spoke: ‘Though I treated him worst, I loved him best.’

  ‘That I believe,’ said Bolli, ‘you say in all sincerity’, and thanked her for satisfying his curiosity.

  Gudrun lived to a great age and is said to have lost her sight. She died at Helgafell and is buried there.

  Gellir Thorkelsson lived at Helgafell into his old age and many remarkable stories are told of him. He figures in many sagas, although he is mentioned but little here. He had a very fine church built at Helgafell, as is stated explicitly by Arnor the Earl’s Poet in the memorial poem he composed about Gellir. When Gellir had reached an advanced age he made preparations for a journey abroad. He went first to Norway, but stayed there only briefly before leaving to travel south to Rome on a pilgrimage to St Peter the Apostle. His journey was a lengthy one; he returned northwards as far as Denmark where he was taken ill and, after a lengthy illness, received the last rites. He then died and is buried in Roskilde. Gellir had taken Skofnung abroad with him, and the sword was never recovered after that. It had been taken from the burial mound of Hrolf Kraki. When news of Gellir’s death reached Iceland, his son Thorkel took over his father’s estate at Helgafell. Thorgils, another of Gellir’s sons, had drowned in Breidafjord at an early age, along with all those who were with him aboard ship. Thorkel Gellisson was a practical and worthy man and was said to be among the most knowledgeable of men.

  Here ends the saga.

  Translated by KENEVA KUNZ

  BOLLI BOLLASON’S TALE

  Bolla pdttur Bollasonar*

  1 At the same time as Bolli Bollason lived at Tunga, as was spoken of earlier, a man called Arnor Crone’s-nose, the son of Bjarni Thordarson of Hofdi, lived on the farm Miklabaer in Skagafjord.

  Another man, named Thord, lived with his wife Gudrun at Marbaeli. They were fine, upstanding farmers with wealth in plenty. Their son Olaf was still a boy at the time and a most promising young man. Gudrun, Thord’s wife, was a near relative of Bolli Bollason, as her mother was his aunt. Gudrun’s son Olaf was named after Olaf Peacock of Hjardarholt.

  At Hof in Hjaltadal lived Thord and Thorvald Hjaltason, two prominent leaders.

  A man called Thorolf Stuck-up lived at Thufur. He had an unfriendly nature and was often uncontrollable when angry. He owned a very aggressive grey bull. Thord of Marbaeli had sailed on merchant voyages with Arnor. Thorolf Stuck-up was married to a kinswoman of Arnor’s and was one of the thingmen of the Hjaltas
ons. He was on hostile terms with his neighbours and was used to making trouble, of which the people of Marbaeli bore the brunt. After he was driven home from the summer pastures, Thorolf’s bull caused a great deal of trouble. He wounded farm animals and could not be chased off with stones. He also damaged stacks of hay and did much other mischief.

  Thord of Marbaeli went to Thorolf and asked him to see to it that the bull did not wander around loose.

  ‘We don’t want to have to put up with his rampages.’

  Thorolf said he did not intend to stand guard over his livestock, and Thord returned home with this reply.

  Not long afterwards Thord noticed that the bull was tearing apart stacks of peat. He ran over to the spot with a spear in his hand, and when the bull caught sight of him it began moving towards him with such heavy steps that it sank into the ground almost over its hooves. Thord lunged at it with his spear and the bull fell to the earth dead. Thord then went to Thorolf to tell him the bull was dead.

  ‘The deed does you little honour,’ Thorolf replied, ‘and I should like to treat you to something just as unpleasant.’

  Thorolf was furious and his every word bore menace.

  Soon Thord had to leave his farm. His son Olaf, then seven or eight years of age, went off some distance from the farmhouse to build himself a play house, as children often do. There Thorolf came upon him and pierced him with his spear. He then returned home and told his wife of it.

  She replied, ‘This is a vile and unmanly deed and you’ll reap an ill reward.’

  Since his wife responded so negatively, Thorolf rode off and did not slow his pace until he came to Arnor at Miklabaer.

  They exchanged news and Thorolf told him of the slaying of Olaf, saying, ‘I look to you for support because of our family connections.’

  ‘You’ll go looking blindly for that in this case,’ Arnor said, ‘as I do not value my connections with you more highly than my own honour. No protection can you expect from me.’

  Thorolf then went to Hof in Hjaltadal, where he sought out the Hjaltasons.

  He told them of his situation and that ‘I look to the two of you for support.’

  Thord answered, ‘This is a base deed, and I will give you no protection in this matter.’

  Thorvald had nothing to say, and Thorolf got nothing from them in this instance. He rode off and farther up into Hjaltadal to Reykir where he bathed in the hot spring. That evening he rode down the valley again and as he neared the fence around the farmhouse at Hof he spoke to himself, as if to someone standing there, who greeted him and asked who he was.

  ‘My name is Thorolf,’ he said.

  ‘Where are you headed and what is your problem?’ asked the unseen man.

  Thorolf told him of all that had happened – ‘I asked the Hjaltasons for protection,’ he said, ‘as I’m in need of help.’

  The man who was supposed to be there with him answered, ‘They have now left the place where they held the wake attended by so many people that there were twelve hundred at table; such leaders have surely fallen in stature if they won’t now offer a single man protection.’

  Thorvald was standing outside and heard the conversation.

  He came over and took hold of the reins of Thorolf’s horse and told him to dismount, ‘though it is hardly likely to bring much honour to help a man as feckless as you’.

  2 The story now turns to Thord who returned home to learn of the slaying of his son, for whom he grieved deeply.

  His wife Gudrun said, ‘You had better declare Thorolf responsible for slaying the lad, and I will ride south to Tunga to my kinsman Bolli to see what help he is willing to offer us to gain redress.’

  This they did. Gudrun was given a good welcome when she arrived at Tunga. She told Bolli of the slaying of her son Olaf and asked him to take over the prosecution of the case.

  He answered, ‘It doesn’t look to me as if it will be easy to obtain honourable redress from those Northerners. What’s more, I have also learned that this man is now keeping himself where it will not be easy to search him out.’

  Bolli did, however, eventually agree to take on the case, and Gudrun returned north. When she arrived home she told her husband Thord how things stood and for some time nothing more happened.

  After Christmas a meeting was to be held in Skagafjord at the Thvera farm, to which Thorvald had summoned Starri of Guddalir, a friend of the Hjaltason brothers. Thorvald and his followers set out for the meeting, and as they passed Urdskriduholar a man came running down the slope towards them. It proved to be Thorolf, who joined Thorvald and his men.

  When they had only a short distance remaining to Thvera, Thorvald spoke to Thorolf: ‘Take three marks of silver with you and wait here above the Thvera farmhouse. It will be a sign to you, when I turn the inside of my shield towards you, that it is safe for you to approach. The shield is white on the inside.’

  When Thorvald arrived at the meeting he met Starri and they conferred together.

  Thorvald spoke: ‘The situation is this: I want you to accept Thorolf Stuck-up for safekeeping and support. In return you will have three marks of silver and my friendship.’

  ‘The man you speak of,’ answered Starri, ‘is neither popular in my eyes nor likely to bring much luck. But for the sake of our friendship I will take him in.’

  ‘You act well, in that case,’ said Thorvald.

  He then turned his shield so that the inside faced away from him. When Thorolf saw this he came forward, and Starri took him under his protection. Starri had an underground shelter at Guddalir because he often sheltered outlaws. He himself had also been charged with offences left unsettled.

  3 Bolli Bollason prepared to prosecute the slaying of Olaf. He made preparations for the journey and set out north to Skagafjord, accompanied by thirty men. He was warmly received when he arrived at Miklabaer.

  He explained the reason for his journey, saying, ‘I intend to bring the case against Thorolf before the Hegranes Assembly, and I would like you to assist me.’

  Arnor answered, ‘I don’t think, Bolli, that you’re headed for fair sailing, if you intend to prosecute a case here in the north against men as unjust as the ones involved here. They will defend the case by any means, whether just or not. But your case is certainly a pressing one, so we’ll do what we can as well to see it successfully concluded.’

  Arnor collected a large number of men and accompanied Bolli to the assembly. The brothers also attended the assembly with a large number of followers. They had learned of Bolli’s journey and intended to defend the case. When people had assembled Bolli presented the charges against Thorolf. When it was the turn of the defence, Thorvald and Starri came forward with their followings, intending to block Bolli’s prosecution by force of arms and numbers.

  Upon seeing this, Arnor led his followers between them, saying, ‘It is clear that so many good men should not be involved in the dispute as now appears likely, so that people fail to obtain justice in their cases. It is misguided to support Thorolf in this case, and you, Thorvald, will have scant backing if it comes to a show of force.’

  Thorvald and Starri now saw that the case would be concluded, since they lacked the numbers to match Arnor and his men, so they withdrew. Bolli had Thorolf outlawed there at the Hegranes Assembly for the slaying of his kinsman Olaf and then returned home. He and Arnor parted the warmest of friends. Bolli remained on his farm awhile.

  4 A man named Thorgrim owned a ship which had been drawn ashore in Hrutafjord. Starri and Thorvald went to pay him a call.

  Starri spoke to the captain: ‘I have a man here whom I want you to transport abroad. You will have three marks of silver and my friendship as well.’

  Thorgrim said, ‘It looks to me as though it will prove a problem to do so, but since you urge me to, I will take him on. He doesn’t look to me like a man to bring much luck, though.’ Thorolf then joined the merchants while Starri returned home.

  To turn now to Bolli, who had been considering what to do
about Thorolf, he felt he would hardly have followed the case to a proper end if Thorolf were to escape. He then learned that passage had been obtained for Thorolf aboard a ship. At that he made preparations to set out, placed his helmet on his head and his shield at his side. He held a spear in one hand and buckled on the sword Leg-biter. He rode north to Hrutafjord and arrived just as the merchants were completing preparations for their voyage. Soon a wind came up. As Bolli rode up to the entrance of the camp, Thorolf came out carrying his bedroll. Bolli drew Leg-biter and struck a blow right through him. Thorolf fell backwards into the camp and Bolli jumped on to the back of his horse. The merchants ran out and towards him.

  Bolli spoke to them: ‘You would be best advised to leave things as they are, since it will prove too great a task for you to bring me down, and I’m likely to trim off one or two of you before I’m done in.’

  Thorgrim answered, ‘I expect that’s true.’

  They took no action, and Bolli returned home. He earned himself a great deal of honour by this, as men thought it quite an accomplishment to have the man outlawed in another district and then venture alone into the hands of his enemies and kill him there.

  5 That summer at the Althing Bolli met with Gudmund the Powerful, and the two conversed together at length.

  Gudmund said, ‘I want to say, Bolli, that it’s men like you that I want to count among my friends. I invite you to come north for a fortnight’s feast, and will be disappointed if you fail to accept.’

  Bolli answered that he would certainly accept this honour from a man such as him and promised to make the journey. There were others who made him offers of friendship as well. Arnor Crone’s-nose invited him to a feast at Miklabaer. A man named Thorstein who lived at Hals, the son of Hellu-Narfi, invited Bolli to stay with them on his way south again, as did Thord of Marbaeli. When the Althing ended Bolli rode home.