Complete works of willia.., p.581
Complete Works of William Morris, page 581
Harold Fairhair, 11
For the utmost limit of outlawry, 225
For heathen sacrifices in the earliest days of Christianity
in Iceland, 226
For a rightful suitor in a blood-suit, 150
Lawsuits, 18, 19, 24, 39, 79, 129, 130, 149, 151, 238, 249, 250
Manners and Customs, Civil and Religious.
Bathing, 148, 220
Burial of misdoers in cairns and tidewashed heap of stones, 59, 241
Burial in barrows. See Barrows.
— at churches, 126, 142
Fasting on Yule-eve, 98
to iron birth, 119
Hallowing of a vessel by a bishop, 115
Iron-birth, 119
Meal-times, 49
Riding, to the Althing, 36, 79
Rubbing of one’s back by the fire, 30
Sailors’ duties have to be per-formed on board ship by the
passengers, 41, sqq.
Sitting at table in the evening, 48
Sleeping in fire-halls, 30
Thing-men have to provide themselves, each one with fare at his own cost, 38
Varangian weapon-show, 253
Washing of hands ere going to table, 113
Money.
Hundred in silver, 151
Mark in silver, 151, 173
Names of folk derived from their country or dwelling-stead
Axefirthers, 278
Gothlander, 11
Halogalander, 57
Icefirthers, 155, 156
Lavadale-men, 182
Marshmen, 182
Northlanders, 163
Northmen, 10, 253
Ramfirthers, 34, and passim.
South-Islander, 7, 92
The men of Biarg, 88, 92
The men of Coldback, 20, sqq.
The men of the Creek, 20, sqq.
Varangians, 253, sqq.
Waterdale-folk, 26, 38
Waterdale-kin, 142
Waterness-men, 34, 88
Well-wharfers, 170
Westfirthers, 80
Westhope-men, 34
Willowdale-men, 34
Occupations.
Binding of hay into horseloads for being conveyed into rick-yard
or barn, 140, 141
Catching of fowl, 219
Drift-watching, 22
Fetching home victuals from mountain dairies, 84
Fetching home stockfish on horses, 126, 128
Fishing in sea and fresh water, 163, 166, 184
Folding, gathering sheep in autumn up from the wilds
and mountains, to be sorted for their owners according to
the marks in the ears of each sheep, 174
Gathering of eggs, 214
Hay-harvest, falls into two parts, the first, the haymaking in the
manured homefield, the second, in unmanured meads and mountains,
132, 140
Iron-smithying, 158
Mowing-tide, the whole season of the summer while grass can be
mown, 84, 132
Watching of home-geese, 29
of horses in winter, 31
of neat, 102
of sheep, 98, 101, 206
Whale-getting, 21, 77
Whale-cutting, 23
Pet Animals.
Keingala, a mare, 31
Pied-belly, a ram, 240
Saddle-fair, a mare, 135
Runes.
Songs cut on staffs, in runes, 186, 198
Baneful runes cut on a bewitched log of wood, 230, 231
Sagas Quoted.
The saga of the Bandamenn, 29
of Bodmod, Grimulf, and Gerpir, 25
of Eric the Earl, 51
of Grim who slew Hallmund, 188
of the heath-slayings, 86
The saga of the Laxdale-men, 19
Settlings of land in Iceland, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17
Ships and their outfit.
Boat, ten oars aboard, 22, 227
Boat-stand, 20, and passim
Beaks, 115
Bark (karfi), of sixteen oars aboard, 46, 52, 62
Bulwark, 3
Forecastle, 3
Grapplings, 33
Gunwale, 147
Row-barge, 115
Sail, 16, 41
Ship shield-hung from stem to stern, 52
stained above sea, 52
cleared from stem to stern, 3
stem, stern, 3, 52
Viking-ship, 1
War-ship, 6
Work in connection with ship:
baling, 41, 42, 45
pumping, 44
rolling ship ashore, 174
launching of, 46
building of, 25
Yard, 16
Skalds named in the Saga.
Arnor Earls’-skald, 179
Bessi, Skald-Torfa’s son, 34, 71
Grettir Asmundson.
Hallmund, 161, 186-187
Odd the Foundling-Skald, 34, 87-88
Skald-Torfa, 34
Svein of Bank, 135
Thormod Coalbrowskald, 77
Social Stations.
Bonder, 14, and passim
Chapmen, passim
Court-owner, an owner of all such houses in a town as form the
surrounding of a court, 71
Earl, a man next after the king in dignity, 14, 50 sqq.,
69 sqq., 112
Free-men, 53
Godi, a chief combining in his person the religious and administrative
authority of the district over which he ruled, 11, 26
Hand-maid, 220, 221
Herdsman. See Occupations.
Hersir, a man next to an earl in dignity, 14
Home-folk, 54
Home-women, 54
House-carle, passim.
Sports and Games.
Ball-play, 34
Ball, 35
Bat, 35
Horse-fight, 87, 88
Knave-game (note), 208
Sports at Heron-ness thing, 210, 212
Swimming, 117, 167, 220
Tale-game, 208
Wrestling, 211, 212, 216
Things, or Public Law-assemblages.
The Althing, passim
The Thing of Kialarness, 19
Heron-ness, 210
Hunawater, 129, 150
Trade on England, 67
Trolls and Evil Wights.
See Hallmund’s song, 187
Troll-carle, 197
Troll-wife, 194, 195
The wight that slew Glam, 96, 99, 100
Troth, to sit in troth for three winters, 77
Twainmonth, the second month in the year, corresponding to our
September (Aug. 24 — Sept. 22).
Wadmall as an article of trade, 40, 220
Weapons and War-gear.
Axe, passim.
Barb-end, 57
Barb, 57, 132
Buckler, 142
Byrni, 57
Chopper, 194
Cheek-pieces of a helmet, 122
Glaive (heft-sax), 197
Grigs of the sword, 241
Hand-axe, 141
Helmet, 57, 85, 122, 132
Shield (iron-rimmed, inlaid), 72, 122, 128, 175, 203, 241
Socket inlaid with silver, 141
Socket-nail, 141
Short-sword, Karrs-loom, 49, and passim
Spear, great without barbs, 141
with broad barbs, 56, 132
Stones used for missiles, 8
Spear-head, 57
Sword, girt with a sword, 132, 241
Jokul’s gift, the heirloom of the kinsmen of Ingimund the
Old, 40, and passim.
Weird of a ghost, 109
of a sorceress, 229
Winter-nights, the first days in winter about Oct. 14, 145
Witchcraft and Sorcery.
Gale of wind brought on by evil craft, 236-236 237
Witchcraft, an illegal means for overcoming an enemy, 244, 250
Witchcraft wrought into a log of wood, the manner thereof, 230, 231
Wound growing deadly through the effect of evil and witchcrafty
runes, 244, 250
Wooing, 6, 7, 19
* * *
PERIPHRASTIC EXPRESSIONS IN THE SONGS.
An Axe: Battle ogress, rock-troll, 38
Blood: Rain of swords, 15
Cave (Hallmund’s): Kettle, where waters fall from great
ice-wall, 160
Fight: Dart’s breath, 15
Dart-shower, 43
Gale of death, 15
Gale of swords, 95
Hilda’s weather, 95
Iron-rain, 234
Mist’s[] mystery, 95
Odin’s gale; Odin’s storm, 143, 190
Shield-fire’s thunder, 6
Shield-rain, 215
Spears’ breath, 170
Spear-shower, 138
Spear-storm, 234
Sword-shower, 81
Gallows: Sigar’s meed for lovesome deed, (Sigarr hung Hag-bard
the Viking for having befooled his daughter), 157
Gold: Deep sea’s flame, 137
Dragon’s lair, 49
Serpent’s bed, 215
The flame of sea, 49
Wave’s flashing flame, 49
Worm’s bed, 41
Worm-land, 131
Grettir (an Eddaic name for a serpent): Fell-creeping lad, 86
Head: Thoughts’ burg, 76 Man: Elm-stalk, 136
Gold-scatterer, 131
Helm-stalk, 136
Jewel-strewer, 30
Lessener of the flame of sea, 49
Lessener of waves’ flashing flame, 49
Ring-bearer, 68
Ring-strewer, 30
Scatterer of serpent’s bed, 215
Wormland’s haunter, 137
Snatcher of worm’s bed, 41
Mouth: Tofts of tooth-hedge, 124 Sailor: He who decks the reindeer’s side that ‘twixt ness and
ness doth glide, 43
Rider of wind-driven steed, 41 Sea-steeds’ rider, 81; Shield: Roof of war, 215
Spear-walk, 12
Ship: Reindeer that ‘twixt ness and ness doth glide, 4343
Sea-steed, 81
Steed of the rollers, 17
Wind-driven steed, 41
Skald: Giver forth of Odin’s mead (Svein of Bank), 41
Sword: Byrni’s flame, 76
Sword: Helmfire, 50, 136
Man’s-bane, 41
War-flame, 199
Whiting of the shield, 21
Wound-worm, 114
Thor: Sifs lord, 157 Warrior: Arrow-dealer, 114
Axe-breaker, 2
Begetter of fight, 49
Brand-whetter, 17
Breaker of the bow, 50
Foreteller of spear-shower, 138
Warrior: Grove of Hedin’s maid, 125
Raiser-up of roof of war, 215
Spear-grove, 59
Stem of shield, 190
Sword-player, 199
War-god, 66
Wound-worm’s tower, 114
Wool-combe: Hook-clawed bird, 31
Woman: Giver forth of gold, 59
Goddess of red gold, 137
Ground of gold, 30
Son of golden stall, 190
Warder of horns’ wave, 181
* * *
PROVERBS AND PROVERBIAL SAYINGS THAT OCCUR IN THE STORY.
A friend should warn a friend of ill, 30
Ale is another man, 55
All must fare when they are fetched, 188188
All things bide their day, 218
All will come to an end, 233
Bare is the back of the brotherless, 241
Best to bairn is mother still, 41
Bewail he, who brought the woe, 175
Broad spears are about now, 133
Deeds done will be told of, 224
Even so shall bale be bettered by biding greater bale, 140
For one thing alone will I not be known, 192
From ill cometh ill, 105
Good luck and goodliness are twain, 105
Hand for wont doth yearn, 226
Hottest is the fire that lies on oneself, 176
Ill deed gains ill hap, 188
Ill heed still to ill doth lead, 121
Ill if a thrall is thine only friend, 240
Ill it is ill to be, 165
Ill it is to goad the foolhardy, 30
Let one oak have what from the other it shaves, 67
Little can cope with cunning of eld, 205
Long it takes to try a man, 61
Many a man lies hid within himself, 203
Many a man stretches round the door to the lock, 86
More one knows the more one tries, 30
No man makes himself, 125
Now this, now that has strokes in his garth, 125
Odd haps are worst haps, 37
Oft a listening ear in the holt is anear, 173
Oft fail in wisdom folk of better trust, 32
Old friends are the last to sever, 240
One may be apaid of a man’s aid, 44
Overpraised, and first to fail, 132
Sooth is the sage’s guess, 92
Swear loud and say little, 266
The lower must lowt, 267
The nigher the call, the further the man, 211
Things boded will happen, so will things unboded, 32
Though the spoon has taken it up, yet the mouth has had no sup, 168
Thralls wreak themselves at once, dastards never, 35
Thrice of yore have all things happed, 262
To the goat-house for wool, 226
With hell’s man are dealings ill, 176
Woe is before one’s own door when it is inside one’s neighbour’s, 105
THE SAGA OF GUNNLAUG THE WORM-TONGUE AND RAFN THE SKALD
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. Of Thorstein Egilson and his Kin.
CHAPTER II. Of Thorsteins Dream.
CHAPTER III. Of the Birth and Fostering of Helga the Fair.
CHAPTER IV. Of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue and his Kin.
CHAPTER V. Of Raven and his Kin.
CHAPTER VI. How Helga was vowed to Gunnlaug, and of Gunnlaug’s faring abroad.
CHAPTER VII. Of Gunnlaug in the East and the West.
CHAPTER VIII. Of Gunnlaug in Ireland.
CHAPTER IX. Of the Quarrel between Gunnlaug and Raven before the Swedish King.
CHAPTER X. How Raven came home to Iceland, and asked for Helga to Wife.
CHAPTER XI. Of how Gunnlaug must needs abide away from Iceland.
CHAPTER XII. Of Gunnlaug’s landing, and how he found Helga wedded to Raven.
CHAPTER XIII. Of the Winter-Wedding at Skaney, and how Gunnlaug gave the Kings Cloak to Helga.
CHAPTER XIV. Of the Holmgang at the Althing.
CHAPTER XV. How Gunnlaug and Raven agreed to go East to Norway, to try the matter again.
CHAPTER XVI. How the two Foes met and fought at Dingness.
CHAPTER XVII. The News of the Fight brought to Iceland.
CHAPTER XVIII. The Death of Helga the Fair.
EVEN AS ARI THORGILSON THE LEARNED, THE PRIEST, HATH TOLD IT, WHO WAS THE MAN OF ALL ICELAND MOST LEARNED IN TALES OF THE LAND’S INHABITING AND IN LORE OF TIME AGONE.
CHAPTER I. Of Thorstein Egilson and his Kin.
There was a man called Thorstein, the son of Egil, the son of Skallagrim, the son of Kveldulf the Hersir of Norway. Asgerd was the mother of Thorstein; she was the daughter of Biorn Hold. Thorstein dwelt at Burg in Burg-firth; he was rich of fee, and a great chief, a wise man, meek and of measure in all wise. He was nought of such wondrous growth and strength as his father Egil had been; yet was he a right mighty man, and much beloved of all folk.
Thorstein was goodly to look on, flaxen-haired, and the best-eyed of men; and so say men of lore that many of the kin of the Mere-men, who are come of Egil, have been the goodliest folk; yet, for all that, this kindred have differed much herein, for it is said that some of them have been accounted the most ill-favoured of men: but in that kin have been also many men of great prowess in many wise, such as Kiartan, the son of Olaf Peacock, and Slaying-Bardi, and Skuli, the son of Thorstein. Some have been great bards, too, in that kin, as Biorn, the champion of Hit-dale, priest Einar Skulison, Snorri Sturluson, and many others.
Now, Thorstein had to wife Jofrid, the daughter of Gunnar, the son of Hlifar. This Gunnar was the best skilled in weapons, and the lithest of limb of all bonderfolk who have been in Iceland; the second was Gunnar of Lithend; but Steinthor of Ere was the third. Jofrid was eighteen winters old when Thorstein wedded her; she was a widow, for Thorodd, son of Odd of Tongue, had had her to wife aforetime. Their daughter was Hungerd, who was brought up at Thorstein’s at Burg. Jofrid was a very stirring woman; she and Thorstein had many children betwixt them, but few of them come into this tale. Skuli was the eldest of their sons, Kollsvein the second, Egil the third.
CHAPTER II. Of Thorsteins Dream.
One summer, it is said, a ship came from over the main into Gufaros. Bergfinn was he hight who was the master thereof, a Northman of kin, rich in goods, and somewhat stricken in years, and a wise man he was withal.
Now, goodman Thorstein rode to the ship, as it was his wont mostly to rule the market, and this he did now. The Eastmen got housed, but Thorstein took the master to himself, for thither he prayed to go. Bergfinn was of few words throughout the winter, but Thorstein treated him well The Eastman had great joy of dreams.
One day in spring-tide Thorstein asked Bergfinn if he would ride with him up to Hawkfell, where at that time was the Thing-stead of the Burg-firthers; for Thorstein had been told that the walls of his booth had fallen in. The Eastman said he had good will to go, so that day they rode, some three together, from home, and the house-carles of Thorstein withal, till they came up under Hawkfell to a farmstead called Foxholes. There dwelt a man of small wealth called Atli, who was Thorstein’s tenant Thorstein bade him come and work with them, and bring with him hoe and spade. This he did, and when they came to the tofts of the booth, they set to work all of them, and did out the walls.
The weather was hot with sunshine that day, and Thorstein and the Eastman grew heavy; and when they had moved out the walls, those two sat down within the tofts, and Thorstein slept, and fared ill in his sleep. The Eastman sat beside him, and let him have his dream fully out, and when he awoke he was much wearied. Then the Eastman asked him what he had dreamt, as he had had such an ill time of it in his sleep.
