Njal's Saga

by AnonYMous

  Flosi said to Asgrim, ‘We’ll part for now, safe and sound, and meet again at the Thing to deal with this whole matter.’

  ‘So we will,’ said Asgrim, ‘and I only hope that by the time the Thing is over you’ll be brought down a peg.’

  Flosi made no answer. They went out and mounted their horses and rode away. They rode until they reached Laugarvatn and spent the night there. In the morning they rode on to Beitivellir1 and stopped to rest. Many bands of men joined them there, Hall of Sida and all the men from the East Fjords. Flosi welcomed them warmly and told them of his journey and his dealings with Asgrim. Many praised Flosi and said he had acted bravely.

  Hall spoke: ‘I don’t see it that way, for I think this was a very foolish move. They’ll remember their grief even without fresh reminders, and men who press others so hard are only creating trouble for themselves.’

  It was clear that Hall thought they had gone too far.

  They all rode away from there until they reached the Upper Fields of the Thing, and there they drew their forces up and then rode down to the Thing. Flosi had arranged for the Byrgi booth to be covered2 before he rode to the Thing, and the men from the East Fjords rode to their booths.

  137

  To turn now to Thorgeir Skorargeir: he rode from the east with a large force. His brothers, Thorleif Crow and Thorgrim the Tall, were with him. They rode until they came to Mord Valgardsson at Hof and waited there until he was ready. Mord had gathered every man who could bear arms, and the brothers found him to be most resolute in every way.

  They rode west until they crossed the rivers and then waited for Hjalti Skeggjason. He came when they had been waiting only a short time. They welcomed him warmly and then all rode together until they reached Reykir in Biskupstunga, and there they waited for Asgrim; he joined them there.

  Then they rode west across the Bruara river, and Asgrim told them everything that had happened between him and Flosi.

  Thorgeir said, ‘I would like us to try out their manliness before this Thing is over.’

  Then they rode until they reached Beitivellir. Gizur the White arrived there with a very large force. They had a long talk together. Then they rode to the Upper Fields and drew up all their forces and rode to the Thing. Flosi and all his men rushed for their weapons, and they were on the verge of fighting, but Asgrim and his band did not react and rode straight to their booths. The rest of the day was quiet, and there was no fighting between them.

  Chieftains had come from all quarters of the land, and there had never been such a crowded Thing as far back as men could remember.

  138

  There was a man named Eyjolf; he was the son of Bolverk, the son of Eyjolf the Grey of Otradal, the son of Thord Bellower, the son of Olaf Feilan. The mother of Eyjolf the Grey was Hrodny, the daughter of Skeggi from Midfjord, the son of Skin-Bjorn, the son of Skutad-Skeggi. Eyjolf was held in great respect and was so clever in the law that he was one of the three greatest lawyers in Iceland.1 He was an unusually handsome man, big and strong and with every promise of becoming a good chieftain. He was fond of money, like the rest of his family.

  Flosi went one day to the booth of Bjarni Brodd-Helgason. Bjarni welcomed him with open arms, and Flosi sat down beside him. They talked about many things.

  Flosi said, ‘What course shall we take now?’

  Bjarni answered, ‘It’s a tight spot to get out of, but I think the best course is for you to find more support, for they’re gathering men against you. I also want to ask, Flosi, whether you have any distinguished lawyer on your side, for you have two choices: one is to ask for a peaceful settlement, and this would be very good; the other is to defend your side legally – if there is a possible defence – though this may seem audacious. I think you must take this choice, because you have acted aggressively so far, and it would not do for you to falter now’

  Flosi said, ‘Since you asked about lawyers, I can tell you at once that there is none in our band, and I can’t think of any in the East Fjords apart from your kinsman Thorkel Geitisson.’

  Bjarni spoke: ‘We mustn’t consider him; he’s wise in the law, but he’s also very cautious, and no one ought to count on him as a shield. But he’ll stand by you as well as the best, for he’s a very bold man. I can tell you that death will come to the man who pleads the defence for the burning, and I don’t want that for my kinsman Thorkel. We’ll have to look elsewhere.’

  Flosi said he had no idea who the best lawyers were.

  Bjarni spoke: ‘There’s a man named Eyjolf Bolverksson. He’s the best lawyer in the West Fjords Quarter, and he will have to be paid a lot of money to take the case, but we won’t be put off by that. Also, we must take our weapons to all legal proceedings and be extremely watchful, but never fight unless we have to defend ourselves. I’ll go with you now to ask for help, for we can’t afford to sit quiet’

  They left the booth and went to the men from Oxarfjord. Bjarni spoke with Lyting and Blaeing and Hroi Arnsteinsson, and he soon got what he wanted from them.

  Then they went to see Kol, the son of Killer-Skuta, and Eyvind Thorkelsson, the son of Askel the Godi, and asked them for help. They were reluctant for a long time, but finally they accepted three marks of silver and joined their cause.

  Then they went to the booth of the men from Ljosavatn and stayed there for some time. Flosi asked the Ljosavatn men for help, but they were difficult and hard to persuade.

  Then Flosi spoke to them in great anger: ‘You’re a bad lot. You’re pushy and unfair in your own district, but you won’t help men at the Thing even when they need you. You’ll be looked on with scorn and you’ll be treated with reproach at the Thing if you ignore the shameful treatment which Skarphedin dealt to you Ljosavatn men.’2

  Flosi talked to them a second time, privately, and offered them money for their support and beguiled them with flattery Finally they promised their support and became so resolute that they said they would even fight for Flosi, if need be.

  Bjarni said to Flosi, ‘Well done! You’re a great chieftain and a brave, firm man, and you don’t let anything stop you.’

  Then they left and went west across the Oxara river to the Hlad booth. They saw that many men were standing outside the booth. There was one who had a scarlet cloak over his shoulders, a gold band around his head and a silver inlaid axe in his hand.

  Bjarni said, ‘This is good luck – here’s Eyjolf Bolverksson.’

  They went up to Eyjolf and greeted him. Eyjolf recognized Bjarni at once and welcomed him. Bjarni took Eyjolf by the arm and led him up to the Almannagja gorge. He told Flosi and his men to follow behind. Eyjolf ’s men went along with him. They were told to stay up on the edge of the gorge and keep watch from there.

  The others went on until they came to a path which led down from the upper edge of the gorge. Flosi said this would be a good place to sit and have a wide view. They sat down; there were four of them, and no more.

  Bjarni said to Eyjolf, ‘We’ve come to see you, friend, because we very much need your help in all ways.’

  Eyjolf said, ‘There is a good choice of men here at the Thing, and it should be easy to find men who can give you more than I can.’

  Bjarni spoke: ‘That’s not so, for you have many qualities that show that no man is greater than you here at the Althing. First of all, you’re nobly born, as is everybody descended from Ragnar Shaggy-breeches. Your forefathers have always played a role in major events, both at the Thing and at home in their district, and they have always come out on top. Therefore it seems to us that you are as likely to win legal cases as your kinsmen.’

  Eyjolf said, ‘You speak well, but I hardly deserve this praise.’

  Flosi spoke: ‘You don’t need to probe deeply to see what’s on our mind: we want to ask you to support us in our case and go to court with us and look for points that might be used in our defence and argue them on our behalf – and stand by us in whatever may come up at this Thing ’

  Eyjolf jumped up in anger and
said that no one should count on making him a puppet or risk-taker in matters he had no reason to be dragged into.

  ‘I see now,’ he said, ‘what you were after with the flattery you aimed at me.’

  Hallbjorn the Strong grabbed him and put him down between himself and Bjarni and spoke: ‘A tree doesn’t fall at the first blow, friend,’ he said. ‘Just sit here with us for a while.’

  Flosi took a gold bracelet from his arm and spoke: ‘I want to give you this bracelet, Eyjolf, for your friendship and support and to show you that I have no wish to deceive you. You had best accept this bracelet, for there’s no man here at the Thing to whom I have given such a gift.’

  The bracelet was so large and so well made that it was worth twelve hundred ells of striped homespun. Hallbjorn pulled it up Eyjolf ’s arm.

  Eyjolf spoke: ‘It seems quite proper to accept the bracelet now that you are being so kind. And you can count on me to take over your defence and do whatever is necessary.’

  Bjarni said, ‘Now you’re both doing very well. And there are other men here, namely Hallbjorn and myself, who are qualified to witness that you’re taking over the case.’

  Eyjolf stood up, and Flosi too. They shook hands. Eyjolf took over from Flosi the defence and any other actions that might arise from it, for a defence can turn into a prosecution.3Then Eyjolf took over all the evidence to be used in the prosecution, whether it was to be presented in the Quarter Court or the Fifth Court. Flosi transferred the case lawfully, and Eyjolf took it over lawfully.

  Then he spoke to Flosi and Bjarni: ‘Now I have taken over this case, as you requested, but I want you to keep this a secret to begin with. If it goes to the Fifth Court you must be especially careful about saying that you gave money for my support.’

  Flosi and Bjarni and all the others stood up. Flosi and Bjarni went to their booths, and Eyjolf went into Snorri the Godi’s booth and sat down beside him. They talked of many things. Snorri the Godi grabbed Eyjolf ’s arm and turned up the sleeve and saw that he was wearing a large gold bracelet.

  Snorri said, ‘Was this ring purchased or given?’

  Eyjolf was flustered and dumbstruck.

  Snorri said, ‘I see plainly that you got it as a gift – may this bracelet not be the cause of your death!’

  Eyjolf jumped up and walked away and did not want to talk about it.

  When he saw Eyjolf getting up, Snorri spoke: ‘It’s quite likely that by the time the courts are over you will know what gift you have accepted.’

  Eyjolf then went to his booth.

  139

  To return now to Asgrim Ellida-Grimsson and Kari Solmund-arson: they met with Gizur the White, Hjalti Skeggjason, Thor-geir Skorargeir and Mord Valgardsson.

  Asgrim spoke: ‘There is no need to be secretive, for the only men here now are those who know they can count on each other. I want to ask if you know anything about the steps taken by Flosi and his men. It strikes me that we may need to think once more about our own plans.’

  Gizur the White answered, ‘Snorri the Godi sent a man to tell me that Flosi received much support from men in the North, and that his kinsman Eyjolf Bolverksson accepted a bracelet from somebody and was keeping it a secret – and Snorri said that it was his guess that Eyjolf Bolverksson has been chosen to argue for the defence in the case, and that’s why the bracelet was given.’

  They all agreed that this must be so.

  Gizur spoke to them: ‘My son-in-law Mord has taken on a case which must seem to everybody the most difficult of all – the prosecution of Flosi. I want you now to divide the other suits among yourselves, for it will soon be time to give notice of legal actions at the Law Rock. We also need to ask for more support’

  Asgrim replied, ‘We’ll do as you say, but we want to ask you to be with us on our quest for support’

  Gizur said he would do so.

  Then Gizur picked out all of their wisest men to go with him.

  Among them were Hjalti and Asgrim and Kari and Thorgeir Skor-argeir. Gizur said, ‘Let’s go first to the booth of Skafti Thoroddsson.’

  Then they went to the booth of the men from Olfus. Gizur was in front, then Hjalti, then Kari, then Asgrim, then Thorgeir, and then Thorgeir’s brothers. They entered the booth. Skafti was sitting on the cross-bench. When he saw Gizur he rose to meet him and welcomed him and his companions warmly and asked Gizur to sit beside him. Gizur sat down.

  Gizur said to Asgrim, ‘Present Skafti with our request for support, and I’ll add whatever I see fit’

  Asgrim said, ‘We have come to seek help and support from you, Skafti.’

  Skafti said, ‘You found me hard to persuade the last time, when I wasn’t willing to take on your problems.’

  Gizur said, ‘It’s a different matter now – a suit is being brought on behalf of the farmer Njal and his wife Bergthora, both of whom were burned to death without cause, and for the three sons of Njal and many other good men. You certainly do not want to go on refusing support to your kinsmen and in-laws.’1

  Skafti answered, ‘It was my resolve then – when Skarphedin told me that I had smeared tar on my head and cut out turf to put over me, and when he said that I was so frightened that Thorolf Loftsson had to carry me onto his ship in flour sacks and thus bring me to Iceland – that I would never take part in any action over his death.’2

  Gizur said, ‘There’s no point in bringing up such things now, since the man who said that is dead. Surely you’ll stand by me, even if you won’t do so for others.’

  Skafti replied, ‘This case has nothing to do with you, unless you insist on getting mixed up in it.’

  Gizur became angry then and said, ‘You are not at all like your father – though he was thought to be sly, he was always ready to help others when they most needed him.’

  Skafti said, ‘We have different temperaments. You think of yourselves as men who have shared in mighty deeds – you, Gizur the White, when you attacked Gunnar at Hlidarendi, and Asgrim because he killed his foster-brother Gauk.’3

  Asgrim replied, ‘Few bring up the better if they’re aware of the worse.4 Many would say that I didn’t kill Gauk any sooner than I was forced to. There’s reason for you not to help us, but there’s no reason to throw insults at us. I hope that you’ll be greatly dishonoured by this case before the Thing is over, and that no one compensates you for your shame.’

  Gizur and his companions then rose and went away to the booth of Snorri the Godi and went inside. Snorri was sitting on the cross-bench. He recognized the men at once and stood up to meet them and said they were all welcome and gave them places to sit beside him. Then they asked each other what events were being talked about.

  Asgrim spoke to Snorri: ‘My kinsman Gizur and I have come to ask you for support.’

  Snorri answered, ‘You speak of something about which you have good reason to speak, since you are taking action for the death of your relatives. We received much good counsel from Njal, though few men remember that now. But I don’t know what kind of support you think you need most.’

  Asgrim replied, ‘We think we’ll need it most if we have to fight at this Thing.’

  Snorri spoke: ‘It’s true that you would be at great risk then. Your prosecution of the case will no doubt be very forceful, but so will their defence, and neither side will give in to the other. You won’t put up with this and you’ll attack them, and indeed you will have no other choice, for they want to pay for their killings by shaming you, and for your loss of kinsmen by humiliating you.’

  It was easy to see that he was egging them on.

  Gizur said, ‘You speak well, Snorri. You’re at your best and most like a leader when it most counts.’

  Asgrim said, ‘I want to know what help you’ll give us if things go as you say.’

  Snorri spoke: ‘I will make a gesture of friendship to you, upon which all your honour will depend. I won’t go to court, but if you

  fight here at the Thing, only attack them if you’re sure of yourselves, for
you have great champions against you. If you find yourselves overwhelmed, then pull back towards us, for I’ll have my men drawn up and ready to help you. If it turns out differently and they retreat, my guess is that they’ll run for shelter into the Almannagja, and if they reach it you’ll never be able to get at them. I’ll make it my task to draw up my men before them and block them from reaching shelter, but we won’t pursue them, whether they head north or south along the river. Then, when you’ve slain about as many of their men as I think you can afford to pay compensation for without losing your godords and your homes, I’ll rush up with all my men and separate you. Then, if I’ve done all this for you, you must follow my orders.’

  Gizur thanked him warmly and said this was just what they needed. Then they all went out.

  Gizur said, ‘Where shall we go now?’

  Asgrim answered, ‘To the Modruvellir booth.’

  They went there next.

  140

  When they came to the booth they saw Gudmund sitting and talking with his foster-brother Einar Konalsson, a wise man. They entered and went up to Gudmund; he welcomed them and cleared the booth so that they could all sit. Then they asked each other for news.

  Asgrim spoke: ‘There’s no need to whisper what I have to say -we’ve come to ask for your firm support’

  Gudmund answered, ‘Have you met with any other chieftains?’

  They answered that they had met with Skafti and Snorri the Godi, and in a low voice they told him how it had gone with each of them.

  Gudmund spoke: ‘The last time we met I was small-minded and made myself difficult. I’ll be as easy now as I was unyielding then. I, together with all my thingmen, will go to court with you and give you as much help as I can, and fight on your side, if necessary, and risk my life with yours. I’ll pay back Skafti by seeing to it that his son, Thorstein Hare-lip, fights along with us; he won’t dare go against mywishes, since he’s married to my daughter Jodis. Skafti will then try to stop the fighting.’