Egil’s Saga (34 page)

“Then will I open up mine award
¹
betwixt Steinar and Thorstein. Take I up the matter there, when Grim, my father, came hither to the land and took here all the lands about the Myres and wide about the neighbourhood, and took to him homestead at Burg and appointed thereto demesnes, but gave, over and above this, choice of land unto his friends, so as they settled there since. He gave Ani homestead at Anisbrent, there where Onund and Steinar have hitherto dwelt. That know we all, Steinar, where the landmarks be betwixt Burg and Anisbrent, that there maketh Hafslech the boundary. Now that was not unwittingly, Steinar, that thou didst in grazing of Thorstein’s land, and didst lay under thee his estate, and wast minded that he would be so great a shamer of his line as that he would be willingly thy robbing-prey (because thou, Steinar, thou and Onund, may know that, that Ani received land from Grim, my father); but Thorstein slew for thee two thralls. Now is that clear as day to all men, that they have fallen by their own act, and they are men not to be booted: yea more, though they had been free men, then would they yet have been men not to be booted. But because of that, Steinar, that thou bethoughtest thee that thou mightest rob
Thorstein, my son, of his land-holding, that which he took with my rede and that I took in heritage after my father, therefore shalt thou lose thine own land at Anisbrent and have no fee therefor. That too shall follow, that thou shalt not have homestead neither lodging here in the neighbourhood south of Longwater, and be gone from Anisbrent before the faring-days be passed, but fall unhallowed before all those men who will give aid to Thorstein, forthwith after the faring-days, if thou wilt not fare away or in any jot not hold to that which I have laid down for thee.”

But when Egil sate him down, then named Thorstein witnesses of his award.

Then spake Onund Sjoni: “That will be the talk of men, Egil, that that award which thou hast made and spoken forth, is something askew.
²
Now is that to be said of me, that I have laid out mine whole self to bar these troubles; but from henceforth shall I spare nought that I have the might to do for the hurting of Thorstein

“The rather am I minded”, saith Egil, “that the lot of you two, father and son, will aye be the worse the longer we stand at strife together. I thought, Onund, that thou wouldst know that, that I have held my ground before such-like kind of men as ye two be, father and son. But Odd and Einar, that have dragged themselves so much into this case, have hereof gotten the honour they deserved.”
³

CHAPTER LXXXIII. HOW STEINAR SAT FOR THORSTEIN EGILSON BESIDE EINKUNNIR.

T
HORGEIR BLUND was there at the Thing, sister’s son to Egil, and had done Thorstein great help in these suits. He bade that father and son give him somewhat of land out there on the Myres; he dwelt before to the south of Whitewater below Blundswater. Egil took that well, and urged Thorstein that he should let him fare thither. They set Thorgeir down at Anisbrent; but Steinar moved his homestead out over Longwater and sat him down at Leirulech. But Egil rode
home south to the Nesses, and that father and son parted with blitheness.

That man was with Thorstein who was named Iri, than any man else swifter-footed and of all men the keenest of sight. He was an outlander,
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and a freedman of Thorstein’s, and yet had he the minding of cattle, and that most, to gather the barren sheep up to the fell in the spring-time and in autumn down to the folds. But now, after the faring days, Thorstein let gather those barren sheep that had been left behind that spring, and was minded to let drive that to the fell. Iri was then at the sheep-folds, but Thorstein and his housecarles rode up to the fell, and they were eight in company. Thorstein let make a fence across Grisartongue between Longwater and Gorgewater: he let many men be at that work in the spring. And when Thorstein had looked over the work of his housecarles, then rode he home; and when he came over against the thing-stead, then came Iri running to meet them, and said that he will speak with Thorstein apart. Thorstein spake that his companions should ride on, whiles they talked.

Iri saith to Thorstein that he had fared up to Einkunnir that day and seen to the sheep; “But I saw”, saith he, “in the wood above the winter-road
²
that there shone twelve spears and certain shields”.

Thorstein saith aloud, so that his companions heard it plain so: “Why must he
³
be so set on meeting me that I may not ride my ways home? And yet will Olvald think it unfair, that I should deny him speech with me if he is sick”.

Iri ran then the hardest he might, up the fell. Thorstein saith to his companions: “Lengthened methinks now must be our way, if we shall first ride south to Olvaldstead. Olvald sent me word that I should go see him. And yet it will seem to him no great return for the ox that he gave me last autumn, that I should meet him, if it seemeth to him the matter presseth”.

And now rode Thorstein and his men south along the marshes below Stangarholt and so south to Gufa and down along the river by the riding-roads. And when he came down from Vatn, then saw they south of the river many beasts and a man near them; there was a housecarle of Olvald’s. Thorstein asked whether all
was well there. He said that there was all right well, and Olvald was in the wood a-hewing trees.

“Then shalt thou”, saith Thorstein, “say to him, if he hath with me an errand of moment, that he may come to Burg; but I will now ride home.”

And so did he. But that was heard say, though, later, that Steinar Sjonison had that same day sat up beside Einkunnir with eleven men. Thorstein made as if he had not heard of it, and that was let rest thereafter.

CHAPTER LXXXIV. OF THE END OF THE DEALINGS BETWEEN STEINAR AND THORSTEIN EGILSON.

A
MAN is named, Thorgeir.
¹
He was a kinsman of Thorstein’s and the greatest friend of his. He dwelt in that time at Alptaness. Thorgeir was wont to have an autumn bidding every autumn. Thorgeir fared to find Thorstein Egilson and bade him to him. Thorstein promised to come, and Thorgeir fared home. But at the appointed day Thorstein made him ready for the journey, and there was then four weeks till winter. With Thorstein fared his eastman
²
and two housecarles of his. Grim was named a son of Thorstein’s: he was then of ten winters, and fared too with Thorstein; and they were five in company and rode out to the force and there over Longwater, and so out as their road lay to Aurridawater.

But out by the river was Steinar at work, and Onund and housecarles of theirs; and when they knew Thorstein, then leapt they to their weapons and therewith after Thorstein and his men. And when Thorstein saw Steinar’s faring after them, then rode they out of Longholt. There is a certain knoll, high and not wide: there light they down, Thorstein and his, from their horses, and hasten up on to the knoll. Thorstein spake that the boy Grim should fare into the wood and not be stood by at their meeting.

And straightway when Steinar and his come to the knoll, then set they on against Thorstein and his, and there befell a battle. Steinar and his were six in company, grown men, but the seventh
a son of Steinar’s, ten winters old. This meeting saw those men that were in the meadow-closes, from other farms, and ran to it to part them. And when they were parted, then were Thorstein’s housecarles both dead; fallen too was a housecarle of Steinar’s, and some wounded. And when they were parted, searcheth Thorstein about, where Grim was, and they find him. Grim was then wounded sore, and Steinar’s son lay there beside him, dead.

And when Thorstein leapt a-horseback, then called Steinar upon him and spake: “Runnest thou now, Thorstein the White!”
³
saith he.

Thorstein saith: “A longer way shalt thou run, ere a week be past”.

And now rode Thorstein and his, out over the marsh, and had with them the boy Grim. And when they came out into that holt that is there, then dieth the boy; and they buried him there in the holt, and that is called Grimsholt, but there is it named Battleknoll, where they fought.

Thorstein rode to Alptaness that evening, as he had been minded, and sat there at the bidding three nights, but thereafter made him ready for faring home. Men offered to fare with him, but he would not: rode they two in company.

And that same day, when Steinar knew it was to be looked for that Thorstein would ride home, then rode Steinar out along the sea. And when he came to those sandhills which are below Lambistead, then sitteth he down there on the sandhill. He had that sword that was named Skrymir,
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of all weapons the best; he stood there on the sandhill with the sword drawn and turned then but one way, because he saw then the riding of Thorstein out along the sand.

Lambi
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dwelt at Lambistead, and saw what Steinar was a-busied with. He walked from home and down to the bank, and when he came to Steinar then grabbed he him from behind under the arms of him. Steinar would tear himself free of him: Lambi held fast: and fare they now off the sandhill down to the level, but then ride Thorstein and his man by the lower road. Steinar had ridden his stud-horse, and it galloped inland along the sea: that saw they, Thorstein and his man, and wondered,
because they had not been ware of the faring of Steinar. Then struggled Steinar up again on to the bank, because he saw not that Thorstein had ridden by. And when they came to the brow of the bank, then Lambi kicked him down the sandhill; but Steinar was not on his guard for this: he raced down on to the sand, but Lambi leapt home. And when Steinar was come to his feet, then ran he after Lambi. But when Lambi came to the gate, then leapt he in, but slammed the door behind him. Steinar hewed after him, so that the sword stood fast in the wind-sheath.
⁶
Parted they there. Steinar walked home.

But when Thorstein came home, then sent he, the day after, a housecarle of his out to Leirulech to say to Steinar that he should move his homestead beyond Burglava, but if not, he would use his vantage against Steinar in that he had the greater power in men; “And there will then be no chance for faring away”. But Steinar made ready his journey, out to Snaefell-strand, and there set he up house where it is named Ellidi. And there endeth their dealings, betwixt him and Thorstein Egilson.

Thorgeir Blund dwelt at Anisbrent. He dealt unneighbourly with Thorstein all he might. That was on a time when they met together, Egil and Thorstein, that they talked much about Thorgeir Blund their kinsman, and all their talk came to the same thing betwixt them.

Then quoth Egil:
⁷

Erst I the lands with talking

’Ticed from hand of Steinar:

Unto the heir of Geir

Good work methought then wrought I.

Scurvily doth my sister’s

Son, yet all bade fair then.

Nought may he bind himself from bale,

Blund.—And here I marvel.

Thorgeir Blund fared away from Anisbrent and fared south into Flokadale, because Thorstein thought there was no dealing with him, albeit he was willing to give way to him withal.

Thorstein was a man of no foxish tricks,
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and of righteous
ways and not overbearing with men, but held his ground if other men meddled with him, and indeed it came somewhat heavy for most men to try for the mastery with him.

Odd was then lord in Burgfirth to the south of Whitewater. He was temple-priest, and ruled over that temple that all men paid the temple-toll to this side of Skarths-heath.

CHAPTER LXXXV. OF THE LAST DAYS AND DEATH OF EGIL SKALLAGRIMSON.

E
GIL SKALLAGRIMSON became an old man; but in his old age he began to be heavy of movement, and he was dull both of hearing and sight; he began withal to be stiff of leg. Egil was then at Mossfell with Grim and Thordis.

That was on a day that Egil walked out along by the wall and struck his foot and fell. Some women saw that, and laughed at it and spake: “Shent art thou now, Egil, altogether, sith thou fallest of thine own self”.

Then saith goodman Grim: “Less mocked women at us two then when we were younger”.

Then quoth Egil:
¹

Like hobbled steed I stumble;

Bald scalp I’m like to fall on;

Woeful weak is leg-berg’s

Wimble; and hearing’s gone now.

Egil became altogether sightless. That was upon a day, when the weather was cold in winter-time, that Egil fared to the fire to warm himself. The kitchen-wench talked of it, that that was a great wonder, such a man as Egil had been, that he should lie before their feet, so that they might not get their work done.

“Be content thou,” saith Egil, “though I bake myself by the fire, and let us be kind and give place to one another.”

“Stand thou up,” saith she, “and get thee to thy place, and let us get our work done.”

Egil stood up and gat him to his place, and quoth:
²

Blind toward embers turn I;

Bid I the spear-care’s goddess

Pity the ill I bear in

The balls that press mine eyelids.

King that earth rang with name of,

Who erst my words had game of,

With words (but of the captain

Of Hamdir’s spear) advanc’d me.

That was yet another time when Egil gat him to the fire to warm himself, then asked a man of him whether he was cold in the feet, and bade him not stretch them out too near the fire.

“So shall it be,” saith Egil. “But nought easy is it now for me to steer my feet, when I cannot see: and over-deaflike
³
’tis, this loss of eyesight.” Then quoth Egil:
⁴

Long meseemeth,

Laid all alone,

An old, old carle,

Far from King’s caring.

Here’s two cripples,

Both bitter cold;

And these women

Need the warmth.

That was in the earlier days of Earl Hakon the Great, then was Egil Skallagrimson in the ninth ten-years of his age, and he was then a brisk man for all other sakes save loss of eyesight. That was in the summer when men made ready for the Thing, then asked Egil of Grim to ride to the Thing with him. Grim took that slowly; and when those two, Grim and Thordis, were a-talking together, then said Grim to her what Egil had asked for: “I will that thou find out what dwelleth under this asking”.