The Complete

Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda

Legendary Sagas of the Northland

in English Translation

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ÞÓRSTEINNS SAGA VIKINGSSON THE SAGA OF THORSTEIN, VIKING’S SON
 Around 1300 Translated by
Rasmus B. Anderson and Jón Bjarneson
1877
1.  Frá Loga konungi Chapter 1: HERE BEGINS THE SAGA OF THORSTEIN, VIKING’S SON.

Þat er upphaf þessarar sögu, at Logi hefir konungr heitit. Hann réð fyrir því landi, er norðr er af Noregi. Logi var stærri ok sterkari en nokkurr annarr í því landi. Var lengt nafn hans, ok var kallaðr Hálogi. Af honum tók landit nafn ok var kallat Hálogaland. Logi var allra manna fríðastr. Brá honum um afl ok vöxt í ætt sína, því at hann var risakyns. Hann átti Glöð, dóttur Gríms ór Grímsgörðum norðan ór Jötunheimum, er þá váru kallaðir fyrir norðan í Elivágum. Grímr var inn mesti berserkr. Hann átti Alvöru, systur Álfs ins gamla. Hann réð fyrir því ríki, er liggr í milli á tveggja. Þær tóku nafn af honum, ok var kölluð elfr hvártveggi. Var sú kölluð Gautelfr, er fyrir sunnan var við land Gauta konungs ok skildi við Gautland. En sú var kölluð Raumelfr, er fyrir norðan var ok kennd var við Raum konung. Ríki þat var kallat Raumaríki. Þat váru kallaðir Álfheimar, er Álfr konungr réð fyrir, en þat fólk er allt álfakyns, er af honum er komit. Váru þat fríðari menn en aðrar þjóðir næst risafólki. Álfr konungr átti Bryngerði, dóttur Raums konungs af Raumaríki. Hún var stór kona, en ekki væn, því at Raumr konungr var ljótr. Er þat kallat, at þeir menn sé miklir raumar, sem ljótir eru ok stórir. Hálogi konungr átti tvætr við Glöð, drottningu sinni. Hét önnur Eisa, en önnur Eimyrja. Þær váru fríðari meyjar en nokkurar aðrar í því landi. Þær váru til þess kyn, svá var faðir þeira ok móðir, En sakir þess, at eldr ok ljós birtir þar, sem áðr er myrkt, tóku þessir hlutir nafn af fyrrgreindu fólki.

Jarlar tveir váru með Háloga. Hét annarr Vífill, en annarr Véseti. Þeir váru báðir miklir menn ok sterkir. Þeir vörðu land konungs. Þat var einn dag, at jarlarnir gengu fyrir konung, ok bað Vífill Eimyrju, en Véseti Eisu. Konungr synjaði þeim báðum. Þeir urðu við þat mjök reiðir, svá at litlu síðar tóku þeir þær í burt ok stukku ór landi ok firrðust fund hans, því at hann gerði þá útlæga af ríki sínu, ok lét hann gera til þess galdra, at þeir yrði þar aldri innlenzkir, ok lagði hann á, at þeira ættmenn yrði jafnan útlægir af sínum eignum. Véseti settist í ey þá eða hólm, er kallaðr er Borgundarhólmr. Hann var faðir Búa ok Sigurðar kápu. Vífill sigldi austr lengra ok settist í þá ey, er Vífilsey heitir. Hann átti son við Eimyrju, konu sinni, er Víkingr hét. Hann var snemma mikill vexti ok sterkari en aðrir menn.

  The beginning of this Saga is, that a king named Loge ruled that country which is north of Norway. Loge was larger and stronger than any other man in that country. His name was lengthened from Loge to Haloge, and after him the country was called Halogeland (Hálogaland, i.e. Haloge’s land). Loge was the fairest of men, and his strength and stature was like unto that of his kinsmen, the giants, from whom he descended. His wife was Glod (Glöð, glad), a daughter of Grim of Grimsgard, which is situated in Jotunheim in the north; and Jotunheim was at that time called Elivags (Elivágar in the north). Grim was a very great berserk; his wife was Alvor, a sister of Alf the Old. He ruled that kingdom which lies between two rivers, both of which were called Elfs (i.e. Elbs), taking their name from him (Alf). The river south of his kingdom, dividing it from Gautland, the country of King Gaut, was called Gaut’s Elf (i.e. Gaut’s River, the river Gotha in the southwestern part of th present Sweden); the one north of it was called Raum’s Elf, named after King Raum, and the kingdom of the latter was called Raum’s-ric. The land governed by King Alf was called Alfheim, and all his offspring are related to the Elves. They were fairer than any other people save the giants. King Alf was married to Bryngerd, a daughter of king Raum of Raum’s-ric; she was a large woman, but she was not beautiful, because her father, king Raum, was ugly-looking, and hence ugly looking and large men are called great “raums.” King Haloge and his wife, queen Glod, had two daughters, named Eisa (glowing embers) and Eimyrja (embers). These maids were the fairest in the land, on account of their things took their names from the above-named maids. There lived with Haloge two jarls, named Vifil and Vesete, both of whom were large and strong men, and they were the warders of the king’s land. One day the jarls went to the king, Vifil to woo Eimyrja and Vesete to woo Eisa; but the king refused both, on which account they grew so angry that they soon afterward carried the maids off, fleeing with them out of the land, and thus putting themselves out of his reach. But the king declared them outlaws in his kingdom, hindered them by witchcraft from every again becoming dwellers in his land, and, moreover, enchanted their kinsmen, making these also outlaws, and deprived them of The benefit of their estates forever. Vesete settled in an island or holm, which hight Borgund’s holm (Bornholm), and become the father of Bue and Sigurd, nicknamed Cape. Vifil sailed further ot the east and established himself in an island called Vifil’s Isle. With his wife, Eimyrja, he got a son, Viking by name, who in his early youth became a man of great stature and extraordinary strength.
2. Frá Háreki járnhaus Chapter 2
Hringr hét konungr. Hann var fylkiskonungr í Svíaveldi. Hann átti drottningu ok eina dóttur barna, er Húnvör hét. Hún var allra kvenna fríðust ok bezt mennt. Hún helt skemmu mikla ok kvenna sveit. Sú hét Ingibjörg, er næst henni gekk, dóttir Herfinns jarls af Ullarakri. Þat töluðu flestir menn, at Ingibjörgu skorti ekki við konungs dóttur nema burði ok speki, því at þat bar hún yfir hvern mann þar í landi. Margir konungar ok konungasynir báðu hennar, ok vísaði hún öllum frá. Ór hófi þótti öllum ganga metnaðr hennar ok ofstopi. Töluðu þat ok margir menn, at henni mundi koma nokkurr hnekkir. Gekk nú svá fram nokkura tíma. Fjall eitt var at baki konungs atsetunni. Þat var svá hátt, at þar lágu engir manna vegir yfir. Þat var einn dag, at ofan af fjallinu gekk einn maðr, ef mann skyldi kalla. Hann var meiri ok illiligri en menn hefði fyrr sét. Hann var líkari jötni en mennskum manni. Hann hafði í hendi flein tvíoddaðan. Þetta var þann tíma, er konungr sat yfir borðum.
Þessi raumr gekk at hallardyrum ok beiddist inn at ganga, en dyraverðir synjuðu. Sjá lagði til þeira fleininum, ok sinn oddrinn kom fyrir brjóst hvárum ok svá út um bakit, ok hóf þá báða yfir höfuð sér ok kastar þeim báðum langt á völlinn dauðum, gekk inn síðan ok fyrir hásæti konungs ok mælti: "Með því, Hringr konungr, at ek hefi virt þik svá mikils, at ek hefi sótt yðr heim, þá þykki mér skylt, at þér gerið mitt erendi."

Konungr spyrr, hvat þat væri eða hvat hann héti.

 Hann svarar: "Ek heiti Hárekr járnhauss. Er ek sonr Kols konungs kroppinbaks af Indíalandi, en erendi mitt er þat, at ek vil, at þér gefið í mitt vald dóttur yðra, land ok þegna. Munu þat ok flestir kalla, at betr sé standanda ríkit, at ek stýri en þú afgamall ok mannskaparlauss. En með því at þér þykkir nokkur mótgerð í því at láta ríkit, þá skal ek þat veita þér í móti at ganga at eiga dóttur þína, Húnvöru, en ef þér líkar þá eigi, þá mun ek drepa þik, en eiga ríkit ok hafa Húnvöru fyrir frillu."

Konungi þótti nú at höndum kominn vandi mikill, því at allt fólk varð hryggt við tal þeira. Konungr mælti þá: "Mér þykkir ráð, at vit vitum, hverju hún vill svara." Hárekr kvað sér þat vel líka.

Var þá sent eftir Húnvöru, ok þetta var borit upp fyrir henni. Hún mælti: "Vel lízt mér á þenna mann, en verða þykki mér mega, at mér verðr hann stórr í skapsmunum, en fullkosta er mér í honum í allan máta, en þó vil ek at því spyrja, hvárt ekki skal til undanlausnar." "Eigi skal þat," segir Hárekr, "ef konungr vill ganga á hólm við mik at þriggja nátta fresti eða fá mann fyrir sik, þá skal sá ráða öllum hlutum, er annan fellir á hólmi."

"Víst mun þat," segir Húnvör, "at sá mun engi fást, at þik sigri í einvígi, en þó mun ek því játa."

Hárekr snýr síðan út, en Húnvör fór til skemmu ok grét sárt.

Konungr spurði eftir sína menn, hvárt engi vildi vinna þat til ráðahags við dóttur sína at berjast við Hárek.
En þótt ráðit væri gott, vildi engi til vinna, því at öllum þótti víss dauðinn. Töluðu þat ok margir, at þetta væri henni makligt, svá mörgum sem hún hefði frá vísat, ok mundi nú lægjast metnaðr hennar, ef hún skyldi eiga Hárek. Eymundr hét þjónustumaðr hennar. Hann var henni hollr ok trúr í öllum ráðum. Þenna kallaði hún til þegar um daginn ok mælti: "Ekki mun tjá kyrru fyrir at halda. Vil ek senda þik, skaltu taka skip ok róa til eyjar þeirar, er liggr út undan Ullarakri, er Vífilsey heitir. Þar stendr bær í eynni. Þangat skaltu fara ok koma þar annat kveld um dagsetrs skeið. Skaltu ganga inn í bæinn vestri dyrr, ok er þú kemr inn, muntu sjá, roskinn mann hvatligan ok aldraða konu. Ekki mun þar fleira manna. Son eiga þau, er Víkingr heitir. Hann er nú fimmtán vetra, manna gerviligastr. Eigi mun hann á vaðbergi vera. Annathvárt munum vér þaðan fá leiðrétting várra mála, ella þykki mér seinligt um. Láttu ekki sjá þik, en ef svá kann til at bera at þú sjáir inn þriðja manninn, þá kasta þú þessu bréfi í kné honum ok far síðan heim." Eymundr bregðr við skjótt ok ferr á skip við tólfta mann ok kemr í Vífilsey, en gengr einn á land ok til bæjar ok finnr eldaskálann ok stendr at hurðarbaki. Bóndi sitr við eld ok húsfreyja. Lízt honum bóndi drengiligr. Fölski var fallinn á eldinn, ok sá eigi glöggt.

Húsfreyja tók til orða: "Þat ætla ek, Vífill minn, at okkr dugi, at Víkingr, sonr okkar, komi fram, því at engir munu koma í móti, ok er skjótt komit at því, er hólmstefnan á at vera Háreks."

"Þat þykki mér eigi ráð, Eimyrja," segir hann, "því at sonr okkarr er ungr ok álitalítill, framgjarn ok óforsjáll. Er þat bráðr bani hans, ef hann lætr ginna sik til at berjast við Hárek, en þó muntu þessu ráða."

Litlu síðar spratt upp hurð at baki bónda, ok gekk þar fram maðr furðuliga mikill vexti ok settist niðr hjá móður sinni. Eymundr varpaði bréfinu í kné Víking ok hljóp út síðan ok til skips ok kom til Húnvarar ok segir sitt erendi. Hún segir, at auðna mundi ráða.

Víkingr tók bréfit, ok var þar á kveðja konungsdóttur ok þat með, at hann berðist við Hárek járnhaus ok hún mundi ganga með honum. Víkingr brá lit við, ok er Vífill sá þat, þá spurði hann, hvat þat væri. Víkingr sýndi honum bréfit.

"Þat vissa ek," segir Vífill, "ok hefði betra verit, at ek hefði ráðit áðan, Eimyrja, eða hvat ætlar þú til?"

Víkingr segir: "Mun eigi gott at frelsa konungsdóttur?"

Vífill mælti: "Þat er þinn bráðr bani, ef þú berst við Hárek."

"Til þess skal hætta," segir Víkingr.
 

"Ekki mun þá verða við gert," segir Vífill, "en segja má ek þér frá ætt hans ok honum sjálfum.

 

 

 

There was a king who hight Ring, who ruled a fylke of Sweden. With his queen he had an only child, a daughter, by name Hunvor, a maiden of unrivaled beauty and education. She had a magnificent bower, and was attended by a suite of maidens. Ingeborg hight the maiden, who was next to her in position, and she was a daughter of Herfinn, jarl of Woolen Acre. Most people said that Ingeborg was not inferior to the daughter of the king in any respect, excepting in strength and wisdom, which Hunvor possessed in a higher degree than all others in the land. Many kings and princes wooed Ingeborg, but she refused them all. She was thought to be a woman of boundless pride and insolence, and it was also talked by many that her pride and insolence might some day receive a check in some way or other. Thus time passed on for a while. There was a mountain back of the king’s residence so high that no human paths traversed it. One day a man–if he might be so called–came down from the mountain. He was larger and more fierce-looking than any person that had before been seen, and he looked more like a giant than like a human being. In his hand he held a bayonet-like two-pointed pike. This happened while the king was sitting at the table. This “raum” (ugly-looking fellow) came to the door of the hall and requested to be permitted to enter, but the porters refused to admit him. Then he smote the porters with his pike and pierced both of them from breast to back, on being pierced by one point of the pike and the other by the other; whereupon he lifted both of them over his head and threw their corpses down upon the ground behind him. Then, entering the door, he approached the king’s throne, and thus addressed him: As I, king Ring, have honored you so much as to visit you, I think it your duty to grant my request. The king asked what the request might be, and what his name was. He answered: My name is Harek, the Ironhead, and I am a son of king Kol Kroppinbak (the humpback) of India; but my errand is that I wish you to place your daughter, your country, and your subjects in my hands. And, I think, most people will say that it is better for the kingdom that I rule it instead of you, who are destitute of strength and manhood, and moreover, enfeebled by age. But, as it may seem humiliating to you to surrender your kingdom, I will agree, on my part, to marry your daughter, Hunvor. But, if this is not satisfactory to you, I will kill you, take possession of your kingdom, and make Hunvor my concubine. Now the king felt sorely perplexed, for all the people were grieved at their conversation. Then said the king: It seems to me that we ought to know what she will answer. To this Harek assented. Then Hunvor was sent for, and the matter was explained to her. She said: I like the looks of this man very well, although he seems likely to treat me with severity; but I consider him perfectly worth of me, if I marry him; nevertheless, I wish to ask whether no ransom can be paid and I be free. Yes, there can, answered Harek. If the king will try to holm-gang with me within four nights, or procure another man in his stead, then all the powers shall be surrendered to the one slaying the other in the duel. Certainly, answered Hunvor, none can be found who is able to subdue you in a duel; nevertheless, I will agree to your proposition. After this, Harek went out, but Hunvor betook herself to her bower, weeping bitterly. Then the king asked his men if there was nobody among them who regarded his daughter Hunvor a sufficient prize for which to risk his life in a holm-gang with Harek. But, although all wished to marry her, yet nobody was willing to risk the duel, looking upon it as certain death. Many also said that this fate was deserved by her, since she had refused so many, and marrying Harek would be a check to her pride. She had a man-servant, by name Eymund, a fellow faithful to her and to be rusted in all matters. This man she sent for straightway on the same day, saying to him: It will not prove advisable to keep quiet; I want to send you away take a boat and row to the island, which lies outside of Woolen Aere, and is called Vifil’s Isle. On the island there is a byre (farm, farm-house); thither you must go and arrive there to-morrow at nightfall. You are to enter the western door of the byre, and when you have entered you will see a sprightly old man and an elderly woman; any other persons you will not see. They have a son by name Viking, who is now fifteen years old and a man of great ability, but he will not be present. I hope he will be able to help us out of our troubles; if not, I fear there will scarcely be any help for us. You must keep out of sight, but if you happen to see a third person, then throw this letter on his lap and hurry home. Without delay, Eymund, with a company of eleven men, went on board a ship and sailed to Vifil’s Isle. He goes ashore alone and proceeds to the byre, where he finds the fire-house and places himself behind the door. The bonde (farmer) was sitting by the fire with his wife, and he seemed to Eymund a man of brave countenance. The fire was almost burnt out and the house was but faintly lighted by the embers. Said the woman: I think, my dear Vifil, that it would prove to our advantage if our son Viking should present himself, for no one seems to be offering himself for combat, and the time for the duel with Harek is close at hand. I do not think it advisable, Eimyrja, answered he, for our son is yet young and rash, ambitious and careless. It will be his sudden death if he should be induced to fight with Harek; nevertheless, it is for you to manage this matter as you think best. Presently a door opened back of the bonde, and a man of wonderful, stature entered, taking his seat by the side of his mother. Eymund threw the letter on the lap of Viking, ran to the ship, came to Hunvor and told her how he had done his errand. Fate will now have to settle the matter, says Hunvor. Viking took the letter, in which he found a greeting from the king’s daughter, and, moreover, a promise that she would be his wife if he would fight with Harek, the Ironhead. At this Viking turned pale, observing which, Vifil asked him what letter that was. Viking would showed him the letter. This I knew, said Vifil, and it would have been better, Eimyrja, if I had decided this matter myself, when we talked about it a little while ago, but what do you propose to do? Says Viking: Wopuld it not be well to save the princess? Replied Vifil: It will be sudden death to you if you fight with Harek. I will run the risk, answered Viking. Then there is no remedy, says Vifil, but I will give you an account of his family and himself.
3. Frá Kol ok hyski hans   Chapter 3

Tírus inn mikli var konungr yfir Indíalandi. Hann var ágætr höfðingi sakir allra hluta. Hann átti sér ágæta drottning ok eina dóttur barna, er Tróna hét. Hún var allra kvenna fríðust, ólík flestum konum fyrir sakir vizku; bar hún af öllum konungadætrum.

Þann mann er at nefna til sögunnar, er Kolr hét. Margt gott er af honum at segja, þat fyrst, at hann var stórr sem jötunn, ljótr sem fjándinn ok svá fjölkunnigr, at hann fór í jörðu ok á ok límdi saman stóð ok stjörnur. Hann var svá mikil hamhleypa, at hann brást í ýmissa kvikenda líki. Hann fór ýmist með vindum eða í sjó. Hann hafði svá mikinn hring á herðum, at ef hann stóð réttr, bar hæra kryppuna en höfuðit. Hann fór til Indíalands með mikinn her ok felldi Tírus frá landi, en gekk at eiga Trónam ok tók undir sik land ok þegna ok gerðist konungr yfir. Hann átti mörg börn við Trónu, ok brá þeim meir í föður ætt en móður.

Kolr var kallaðr kroppinbakr. Hann átti þrjá kostgripi: Þat var sverð, svá góðr gripr, at ekki var betra borit í þann tíma. Sverðit hét Angrvaðill. Annarr gripr var gullhringr, er Glæsir hét. Þriði var horn. Þat var náttúra drykkjar þess, er í var neðra gólfi, at hverr, sem af drakk, fekk vanheilsu þá, er lepra heitir, ok óminni svá mikit, at hann mundi engan þann hlut, sem áðr hafði verit, en ef drukkit var af efra hlut hornsins, þá bættist þegar.

Elzt barn þeira var Björn blátönn. Tönn hans var blá at lit ok stóð hálfrar annarrar alnar fram ór munni hans. Oft banaði hann þar með mönnum í bardögum eða þá hann var reiðr. Dís hét dóttir Kols. It þriðja barn þeira hét Hárekr. Þá hann var sjau vetra, var hann sköllóttr um allt höfuð. Hauss hans var svá harðr sem stál. Því var hann járnhauss kallaðr. It fjórða barn þeira hét Ingjaldr. Vörr hans in efri var alnar löng frá nefi. Því var hann kallaðr Ingjaldr trana. Þat var gaman þeira bræðra, þá þeir váru heima, at Björn blátönn hjó, sem hann gat, tönn sinni í haus Háreki, bróður sínum, ok skaðaði hann ekki. Ekki festi vápn á vörr Ingjalds trönu. Kolr kroppinbakr lét seiða til þess, at ekki vápn skyldi at bana verða öllu hans afsprengi utan sverðit Angrvaðill. Ekki járn bítr þau annat.

En þá Kolr var fullgamall, dó hann illum dauða. Þá var Tróna vanheil ok varð léttari ok átti son, er Kolr hét eftir föður sínum. Hann var svá líkr föður sínum sem hann var honum skyldr. Þegar Kolr var vetrgamall, var hann mjök illskiptinn við ungmenni. Var hann kallaðr Kolr inn krappi. Dís giftist Jökli járnhrygg. Hann var blár berserkr. Þau systkin skiptu arfi eftir föður sinn. Hlaut Dís hornit, en Björn blátönn sverðit, Hárekr hringinn, Ingjaldr konungdóm, en Kolr lausafé. Þrim vetrum eftir dauða Kols konungs giftist Tróna Herfinni jarli, syni Hróðmars konungs af Marseralandi, ok átti son við henni á fyrsta vetri, er Framarr hét. Hann var efniligr ok ólíkr bræðrum sínum. Nú þykki mér svá," segir Vífill, "at þú hættir eigi lífi þínu undir heljarmann þenna, sem engi bíta járn."

"Eigi skal þat," segir Víkingr, "til skal hætta, hversu er ferr."

Ok er Vífill sér, at honum er alvara í at berjast við Hárek, þá mælti hann: "Enn má ek segja fleira af Kolssonum: Vit Véseti höfðum landvörn með Háloga konungi. Heldum vit í hernað á sumrum. Þat var eitt sinn, at vit mættum Birni blátönn í Græningjasundi, ok börðumst vér með því móti, at Véseti sló með kylfu sinni á hönd Birni, svá at sverðit fellr ór hendi honum, ok náða ek þá sverðinu, ok keyrða ek hann í gegnum, ok lét hann svá líf sitt. Hefik borit síðan sverðit ok nú vil ek gefa þér þat, frændi."

Hann sótti þá sverðit ok fekk Víking. Honum leizt vel á sverðit.

Síðan bjóst Víkingr ok fór einn á báti. Þann sama dag kom hann til konungs hallar, er hólmstefnan átti at vera. Var þar allt tvist ok daprt. Gekk Víkingr fyrir konung ok kvaddi hann. Konungr spyrr hann at nafni. Víkingr segir til it sanna. Húnvör sat á aðra hönd konungi. Víkingr spyrr, hvárt hún beiddi hann at koma þar. Hún segir þat satt vera. Víkingr spyrr, með hverjum hætti hann skal á hólm ganga við Hárek.

Konungr mælti: "Þú skalt eiga dóttur mína með sæmiligum mundi."

Þessu játar víkingr. Fastnar hann ser þá Húnvöru. Þótti flestum sem feigð mundi kalla at Víking, ef hann berðist við Hárek.

      Tirus the Great was king of India. He was an excellent ruler in every respect, and his queen was a very superior woman, with whom he had an only daughter, who hight Trona. She was the fairest among the fair, and, unlike the majority of her sex, she excelled all other princesses in wisdom.
The Saga must also mention a man by name Kol, of whom a great many good things are told: first, that he was large as a giant, ugly-looking as the devil, and so well sk
illed in the black art that he could pass through the earth as well as walk upon it, could glue together steeds and stars; furthermore, he was so great a ham-leaper (1) that he could burst into the shape of various kinds of animals; he would sometimes ride on the winds or pass through the sea, and he had so large a hump on his back that, although he stood upright, the hump would reach agove his head. This Kol went to India with a great army, slew Tirus, married Trona, and subjugated the land and the people. He begot many children with Trona, all of whom where more like their father than like their mother.
Kol was nicknamed Kroppinbak (i.e. Humpback). He had three rare treasures. These were: a sword so mighty that none better was wielded at that time, and the name of his sword was Angervadil; another of the treasures was a gold ring, called Gleser; the third was a horn, and such was the nature of the beverage contained in the lower part of it that all who drank therefrom were attacked by an
illness called leprosy, and became so forgetful that they remembered nothing of the past; but by drinking from the upper part of the horn their health and memory were restored.
Their eldest child was Bjorn, the Blue-tooth. His tooth was of a blue color, and tended an ell and a half out of his mouth, with this tooth he often, in battles or when he was violently in rage, put people to death. A daughter of Kol was Dis. The third child of Kol and Trona hight Harek, whose head at the age of seven was perfectly bald, and whose skull was as hard as steel, wherefore he was called Ironhead. Their fourth child hight Ingjald, whose upper lip measured an ell from the nose whence he was called Ingjald Trana (the snout). It was the pastime of the brothers when at home that Bjorn the Blue-tooth cut his tooth into the skull of his brother Harek with all his might without hurting him. No weapon could be made to stick in the lip of Ingjald Snout. By incantations Kol the Hump-back brought about, that none of his offspring could be k
illed by any other weapon than by the sword Angervadil; no other iron can scathe them. But when Kol had become old enough he died a horrible death. At the time of his death Trona was pregnant, and gave birth to a son, called Kol after his father, and he was as like his father as he was asking to him. One year old, Kol as so ugly to children that he was nicknamed Kol Krappe (the crafty). Dis married Jokul Ironback, a blue berserk. She and her brothers divided their father’s heritage betwixt themselves, so that Dis got the horn, but Bjorn Blue-tooth the sword, Harek the ring, Ingjald the kingdom, and Kol the personal property. Three winters after the death of king Kol, Trona married jarl Herfinn, a son of king Rodmar of Marseraland, and the first winter after they were married she bore him a son, named Framar, who was a man of great possibilities and unlike his brothers. Now it seems to me, continued Vifil, that you ought not to risk your life in a duel with this Hel-strong man, whom no iron can scathe. Not so, answered Viking; I shall urn the risk, whatsoever may be the result. And Vifil, seeing that Viking was in real earnest when he insisted on fighting with Harek, said: I can tell you still more about the sons of Kol. Vesete and I were wardens of king Haloge’s country; during the summer seasons we sued to wage wars, and once we met Bjorn blue-tooth in Grening’s Sound (the present Gronsun, between the Isle of Man and Falster in Denmark), and in such a manner did we fight that Veset smote Bjorn’s hand with his club, so that the sword fell from his hand, and then I caught it, flung it through him, and he lost his life. From that time I have worn the sword, and now I give it to you, my son. Vifil then brought forth the sword and gave it to Viking, who liked it very much. Viking then prepared himself, went on board a boat, and came to the hall of the king on the day appointed for the duel. There everything was sad and dreary. Viking went before the king and greeted him. The king asked him his name. Viking told him the truth. Hunvor was sitting on one side of the king. Then Viking asked her whether she had requested him to come. She replied in the affirmative. Viking asked what terms he offered him for venturing a holm-gang with Harek. Replied the king: I will give you my daughter in marriage, and a suitable dowry besides. Viking gave his consent to this, and then he was betrothed to Hunvor; but it was the common opinion that it would be certain death to him if he should fight with Harek.


End-note:
(1) Shape-changer

4. Víkingr felldi Hárek Chapter 4
Síðan fór Víkingr til hómsins. Fylgdi konungr honum með hirð sinni. Þar kom Hárekr ok spyrr, hverr við sik skyldi berjast.
Víkingr gekk fram ok mælti: "Hér er sjá."
Hárekr mælti: "Lítilræði þykki mér at fella þik at velli, því af ek veit, at þú ert dauðr, ef ek slæ þik með hnefa mínum."
"En ek ætla, at þú telir tormerki á at berjast við mik," segir Víkingr, "er þú æðrast, er þú sér mik."
Hárekr segir: "Eigi er þat, ok þarf ek at forða lífi þínu, er þú vilt sjálfr ganga í opinn munn heljar, ok högg þú fyrri, sem hólmgöngu lög eru til, því at ek hefi einvígi boðit, en ek mun standa kyrr fyrir á meðan, því at óhræddr er ek fyrir því, at mik muni þat saka." Víkingr brá nú Angrvaðli, ok var því líkt sem elding brygði af honum. En er Hárekr sá þat, mælti hann: "Við þik skyldi ek aldri barizt hafa, hefðak vitat, at þú hefðir Angrvaðil haft. Er því líkast, at svá fari sem faðir minn sagði, at vér systkin munum skammlíf verða nema sá einn, er hans nafn bæri. Var þat it mesta slys, er Ángrvaðill gekk ór várri ætt." Ok í því hjó Víkingr ofan í haus Háreki ok klauf hann allan at endilöngu, svá at sverðit hljóp niðr í jörðina allt at hjöltum. Konungs menn æptu þá sigróp mikit. Fór konungr heim til hallar með fagnaði. Var þá um talat, at við brullaupi skyldi búast, en Víkingr sagðist eigi þat vildu, --"skal hún sitja í festum þrjá vetr, en ek skal fara í hernað".

Var nú svá gert, at Víkingr helt ór landi með tveimr skipum, ok tókst þat vel, því at hann hafði sigr í hverri orrostu. Ok er hann hafði tvá vetr í víkingu verit, lagði hann um haustit at ey nokkurri. Þá var veðr gott ok hiti mikill.

Then Viking went to the holm, accompanied by the king and his courtiers. Thither came Harek, too, and asked who was appointed to fight with him. Viking stepped forward and said: I am the man. Whereto Harek made reply: I suppose it will be an easy matter to strike you to the ground, for I know it will be the end of you if I smite you with my fist. But I suppose, answered Viking, that you consider it no trifling matter to fight with me, since you tremble at the very sight of me. Harek replies: Not so, and I must save your life, since you go willingly into the open jaws of death; and do you smite first, according to the laws of holm-gang, for I am the challenger in this duel; but, in the meantime, I shall stand perfectly still, for I am not afraid of any danger. At this time Viking drew his sword, Angervadil, from which lightning seemed to flash. Harek seeing this, said: I would never have fought with you had I known that you were in possession of Angervadil, and most likely it will turn out as my father said, namely, that I and my brothers and my sister would all be short-lived, excepting the one bearing his own name, and it was a great misfortune that Angervadil passed out of the hands of our family. At this moment Viking struck Harek’s skull and split his trunk from one end to the other, so that the sword stood in the ground to the hilt. Then the men of the king burst out in loud triumphant shouting, and the king went home to his hall with great joy. Now they began to talk about preparing the wedding-feast, but Viking said he was not willing to be married yet; she shall remain betrothed, he said and not be wedded till after three years, meanwhile I am going to wage war. So was done, and Viking went abroad with two ships. He was very successful, gaining victory in every battle; and after having spent two years as a viking, he landed at an island in the autumn at a time when the weather was fair and very warm.
5. Víkingr varð líkþrár Chapter 5

Þenna sama dag gengr Víkingr á land einn at skemmta sér. Hann snýr til skógar. Varð honum þá varmt mjök. Ok er hann kom í eitt rjóðr fagrt, settist hann niðr ok sér, hvar kona gengr. Hún var harðla fögr. Hún gekk at honum ok heilsar upp á hann harðla sæmiliga, en hann tók henni vel. Þau töluðust við langa stund, ok fór ræða þeira heldr vinsamliga. Hann frétti hana at nafni, en hún kvaðst Sólbjört heita. Hún spyrr, hvárt hann þyrsti ekki, því at hann hafi langt gengit til. Víkingr kvað þat eigi vera. Hún tók horn undan yfirhöfn sinni ok bauð honum at drekka, en hann tók við ok drakk ok eftir þat syfar hann ok hallast þá í kné Sólbjartar ok svaf.

En er hann vaknar, var hún öll í burtu. Honum var heldr orðit kynliggt við drykkinn. Hann hafði hroll mikinn í búknum. Veðrit var gustkalt, ok nær mundi hann engan hlut, sem áðr hafði verit, en sízt til Húnvarar. Fór hann til skips ok helt í burt. Tók hann þá krankleika mikinn ok lagðist í rekkju af sótt þeiri, er líkþrá heitir. Heldu þeir víða fyrir land fram, því at þeir vildu hvergi ílendast. En er hann hafði tólf mánuði legit í þessum sjúkleika, tók mjök at honum at þrengja, ok fellu mörg sár á líkam hans.

Þat var einn dag, at þeir lögðu at landi, at þeir sáu sjau skip sigla fyrir höfnina. Ok er þeir fundust, spurðu hvárir aðra at nafni. Víkingr sagði til sín, en sá nefndist Hálfdan, er fyrir var, ok vera Úlfsson. Hálfdan var stórr maðr ok sterkligr, ok þegar hann veit, hversu háttat er Víking, gekk hann á skip til Víkings, ok var þá lítill máttr hans. Hálfdan spyrr, hversu at hefði borizt um mein hans. Víkingr segir allt, sem orðit hafði.

Hálfdan svarar: "Þar hefir hamhleypan Dís Kolsdóttir komit með metum sínum. Þykki mér seinligt at rétta sinn hluta á henni, því at hún mun þykkjast hafa hefnt Háreks járnhauss, bróður síns. Nú vil ek bjóða þér fóstbræðralag ok vita, hvárt vit getum ekki hefnt á Dísi."

Víkingr svarar: "Enga ván veit ek mér á því at fyrir koma Dísi eða Jökli járnhrygg, bónda hennar, sakir vanmættis míns, en svá lízt mér á þik, at þó at ek væri vel til reika, væri mér þetta vel boðit sakir karlmennsku þinnar."

Var þetta nú staðfest, at þeir gerðust nú fóstbræðr.

Hálfdan átti dreka stóran, ok var hann kallaðr Járnbarði. Hann var allr járni varðr fyrir ofan sjó, borðhár ok inn bezti gripr. Ekki höfðu þeir þar lengi verit, áðr þeir fóru burt ok heim í Svafa. Minnkaði þá mátt Víkings, svá at hann gerðist banvænn. En er þeir kómu við land, gekk Hálfdan einn frá skipum, þar til hann kom í rjóðr eitt. Þar stóð steinn einn stórr. Hann gekk at honum ok klappar á með sprota sínum. Þar gekk út dvergr sá, er þar átti heima, er Litr hét. Þeir váru vinir miklir. Hann heilsar honum blíðliga ok fréttir, hvat at erendum væri.

Hálfdan segir: "Nú þykki mér mikit á liggja, fóstri, at þú gerir nú erendi mitt."

"Hvat er þat fóstri minn?" segir Litr.

"Ek vilda, at þú næðir horninu góða Dísar Kolsdóttur."

"Kosta þú," segir Litr, "því at þat er minn bani; ef ek leita við þat, en ek fæ þat ekki þess heldr, því at þú veizt, at ekki tröll er slíkt í veröldinni sem Dís."

"Hér þykki mér á liggja nú," segir Hálfdan.

"Hví mun ek þá eigi hætta," segir Litr, "þótt ek gefi mitt líf við?"

"Vel muntu gera," segir Hálfdan. Skildu þeir þá at sinni. Gekk Hálfdan þá til skipa ok dvaldist þar um hríð.

The Same day as Viking landed at the island, he went ashore to amuse himself. He turned his steps to a forest and then he grew very hot. Having come to an open place in the forest, he sat down, and saw a woman of exquisite beauty walking along. She came up to him, greeted him very courteously, and he received her very kingly. They talked together a long time, and their conversation was very friendly. He asked her her name, and she said it was Solbjort (sun-bright). She then asked him if he was not thirsty, as he had walked so far, but Viking said he was not. She then took a horn, which she had kept under her cloak, offered him a drink from it, and he accepting it, and drinking therefrom, became sleepy, and bending his body into the lap of Solbjort, he fell asleep. But when he woke up again she had entirely disappeared. The drink had made him feel somewhat strange, and his whole body was shivering; the weather was gusty and cold, and he had forgotten nearly everything of the past, and least of all did he recollect Hunvor. He then went to his ship and departed from that place, and now he was confined in his bed by the disease called leprosy. He and his men frequently sailed near land, but were unwilling to go ashore and remain there. After having suffered twelve months from this sickness it grew still more severe, and his body was covered with many sores. One day sailing to land, they saw three ships passing the harbor, and at their meeting they asked for each other’s names. Viking told his name, but the other chieftain said his name was Halfdan, and that he was a son of Ulf. Halfdan was a large and strong-looking man, and when he had learned the condition of Viking he went on board his ship, where he found him very weak. Halfdan asked him the cause of his illness, and Viking told him everything that happened. Halfdan answered: Here the ham-leaper, Dis, Kol’s daughter, has succeeded in her tricks, and I think it will be difficult to get any assistance from her in righting this matter, for she undoubtedly thinks she has avenged her brother, Harek Ironhead. Now I will offer you foster-brotherhood, and we will try whether we cannot revenge ourselves on Dis. Answered Viking to this: Owing to my weakness, I have no hope at all of being able to kill dis and her husband, Jokul Ironback, but such is my opinion of you , that even though I were in the best circumstances, your valor makes your offer very flattering to me. And thus it was agreed that they should become foster-brothers. Halfdan had a great dragon, called Iron-ram; all of this ship that stood out of the water was iron-clad; it rose high out of the sea, and was a very costly treasure. Having spent a short time there they left the place and went home to Svafe. Then Viking’s strength diminished so that he became sick unto death. But when they had landed, Halfdan left the ships alone and proceeded until he came into an open space in a forest, where there stood a large rock, which he went up to and knocked at with his rod, and out of the rock there came a dwarf, who lived there and hight Lit (color), a warm friend of Halfdan, whom the dwarf greeted kindly and asked what his errand was. Replied Halfdan: It is now of great importance to me, foster-father, that you do my errand. What it is, my foster-son? Asked Lit. I want you to procure for me the good horn of Dis, Kol’s daughter, said Halfdan. Risk that yourself, said Lit, for it will be my death if I attempt it; and even the sacrifice of myself would be in vain, for you know there does not exist such a troll in the whole world as Dis. Replied Halfdan; I am sure you will do as well as you can. Upon this they parted, Halfdan returning to his ships and remaining there for some time.
6. Lækning Víkings ok dráp Jökuls Chapter 6

Nú er at segja frá Hringi konungi, at hann sitr í sínu veldi ok Húnvör, dóttir hans, eftir fall Háreks járnhauss. Þótti öllum þat mikit þrekvirki verit hafa. Þessi tíðendi spurðust til Indíalands, ok þótti Ingjaldi trönu mikit fráfall hans. Tók hann at skera upp herör ok sendi um allt landit ok safnaði múg ok mmargmenni. Margar óþjóðir hafði hann í her sínum ok stefndi öllum þessum her til Svíþjóðar. Eigi kemr njósn fyrir honum. Hann býðr konungi til bardaga. Hann bregðr við skjótt ok hefir fátt manna, ferr þó til bardaga, ok verða þar skjót umskipti. Þar fell Hringr konungr ok öll hans hirð, en Ingjaldr tók burt Húnvöru ok hafði til lndíalands. Jökull járnhryggr leitar at þeim fóstbræðrum ok vill hefna Háreks, mágs síns.

Nú er þar til at taka, at þeir Víkingr ok Hálfdan eru í Svafa. Þá er liðnar váru sjau nætr, kemr Litr til móts við Hálfdan ok hefir hornit. Verðr Hálfdan nú glaðr ok ferr til Víkings, ok þótti flestum þá lítit at honum. Hálfdan dreypir þá á varrir honum af inum efra hlut hornsins. Raknar Víkingr þá við, ok er hann tók at magnast, var því líkt sem hann vaknaði af svefni. En svá fell óhreinendi burt af honum sem hreistr af fiski, þar til er honum batnar dag frá degi, til þess er hann var heill.

Þá bjuggust þeir í burt af Svafa ok heldu norðr fyrir Bálagarðssíðu. Sáu þeir þar átján skip ok öll stór, tjölduð svörtum tjöldum.

Hálfdan mælti: "Hér trúi ek fyrir liggja Jökull járnhryggr ok hamhleypan kona hans. Veit ek eigi, hversu þau Litr hafa skilit. Var hann mjök máttlauss. En nú mun ráð at halda til bardaga. Skal bera fjárhlut af skipum, en grjót í staðinn."

Var nú svá gert. Greiddu þeir síðan harðan atróðr ok fréttu hverir fyrir ætti at ráða. Jökull segir til sín ok spyrr, hverir þeir væri. Hálfdan ok Víkingr segja til sín. Þarf þá eigi at sökum at spyrja. Tóku nú til bardaga. Var orrosta in ákafasta. Sneri mannfallinu á þá fóstbræðr, því at Jökull var stórhöggr.

Þá réð Víkingr til uppgöngu á dreka Jökuls ok Hálfdan þar eftir honum. Var þá mikit mannfall á drekanum. Mættust þeir Jökull ok Hálfdan ok áttust við vápnaskipti, ok var Jökull sterkari, en þó kom Hálfdan sverðshöggi á Jökul um þvert bakit, ok beit ekki á. Var Jökull þó í engri brynju. Ok í því kom Víkingr at ok hjó til Jökuls. Þat högg kom á öxlina ok leysti frá síðuna ok höndina ok báða fætrna, en annan fyrir ofan kné.

Fell Jökull þá ok var eigi dauðr ok mælti: "Vissa ek þat, er Dís var horfin at heillum, at mikit illt mundi at baki vera. Var þat fyrst, at ófagnaðrinn Litr sveik hana ok kom þar við metum sínum at stela horninu frá henni, en meiddi hana, ok liggr hún nú í rekkju af viðreign þeira, enda þætti mér ván, at hann mundi ekki gott hafa af fengit. Mundi eigi svá farit hafa, ef hún hefði verit á fótum. En þat hlægir mik, at þit hafið eigi náð Húnvöru konungsdóttur af Ingjaldi trönu, mági mínum."

Litlu síðar deyr hann. Var þar þá æpt sigróp ok gefin grið þeim mönnum, er græðandi váru. Tóku þeir þar mikit herfang, en fundu á landi Dísi ódauða at eins af sameign þeira Lits. Þeir tóku hana ok drógu belg á höfuð henni ok grýttu hana til heljar. Síðan heldu þeir heim í Svafa ok létu græða menn sína. Ok þá er þeir váru búnir með fjögur ok tuttugu skip, öll vel búin at mönnum ok vápnum, lýstu þeir því, at þeir ætla at halda til Indíalands.

Now it must be told of king Ring that he and his daughter Hunvor dwelt in his kingdom after the slaying of Harek Ironhead, which seemed to all a deed of great daring. This event was heard of in India, and Ingjald Snout was startled by the tidings of Harek’s death. He began to cut the war-arrow, and dispatched it throughout the whole country, thus collecting an army containing a crowd of people, among whom there where many of the rabble, and with this army he marched toward Sweden. He came there unexpected, and offered the king battle. The challenge was accepted without delay, although the king had but a few men, and the result of his battle was soon decided. King Ring fell, together with all his courtiers; but Ingjald took Hunvor and Ingeborg and carried them away to India. Jokul Ironback went to seek after the foster-brothers, wishing to revenge the death of his brother-in-law, Harek.  

Now the story goes on to tell about Viking and Halfdan staying at Svafe. Seven nights had passed away when Lit met Halfdan and brought the horn to him. This made Halfdan very glad, and he went to Viking, whom almost everybody then thought to be not far from death. Halfdan put a drop of fluid from the upper part of the horn on Viking’s lips. This brought Viking to his senses; he began to grow stronger and was like unto a person awakening from a slumber; and the uncleanness fell from him as scales fall from a fish. Thus he, day by day, grew better and was restored. After this they got ready to depart from Svafe, and directed their course north of Balegard-side. There they saw eighteen ships, all of large size and covered with black tents. Said Halfdan: Here I think Jokul Ironback and his wife, the ham-leaper, are lying before us, and I do not know how Lit has parted with them, he being so exhausted that he could not speak. But now I think there is good reason for going to battle. Let everything of value be taken away from the ships, and let stones be put in instead. This was done. Then after a quick rowing to the strangers, they asked who the chieftains were. Jokul gave them his name and asked for their names in return. They said they hight Halfdan and Viking. Then we need not ask what came to pass. A very hot battle took place, and the foster-brothers lost more men than Jokul, for the latter dealt heavy blows. Then Viking, followed by Halfdan, made an attempt to board Jokul’s dragon, after which a great number of the crew exchanaged blows with each other; but although Jokul was the stronger, Halfdan succeeded in giving him a blow across the back with his sword; yet, in spite of his being without his coat-of-mail, the sword did not scathe him. Meanwhile Viking came to Halfdan’s assistance. He smote Jokul’s shoulder and split his side, thus separating one arm and both feet, the one above the knee, from the trunk. Then Jokul feel, but was not yet dead, and said: I knew that when Dis had been forsaken by luck, much of evil was in store; the first of all was that the villain Lit betrayed her, and thus succeeded by tricks in stealing the horn from her and at the same time hurt her, so that she is still confined to her bed from the encounter; but I should also be inclined to think that he was not escaped without some injury himself either. Had she been on foot, the matter would not have resulted thus. But I am glad you have not got the princess Hunvor from my brother-in-law, Ingjald Snout. After this he soon died, and then a cry of victory was shouted and quarter was given to the wounded who could be cured. They got much booty there, and on shore they found Dis almost lifeless from the encounter with Lit. Her they seized, put a belg (whole skin) over her head, and stoned her to death. Hereupon they went back to Svafe and cured the wounds of their men. And having equipped twenty-four ships, all well furnished with men and weapons, they announced that they were bound for India.

7. Bardagi við Ingjald ok frá Njörfa Chapter 7

Ingjaldr trana hefir mikinn viðbúnað, lét styrkja borgarveggi ok safnar at sér múg ok margmenni ok illþýði. Þegar þeir fóstbræðr koma við land, brenna þeir ok herja. Var allt hrætt við þá. Gera þeir hervirki it mesta, áðr Ingjaldr fréttir. Ferr hann nú í móti þeim, ok er þeir fundust, tóku þeir til bardaga. Í enga þóttust þeir Hálfdan ok Víkingr komit hafa slíka mannraun. Þeir fóstbræðr dugðu mannliga, en er á leið bardagann, sneri mannfallinu á Ingjald. Stóð þessi orrosta fjóra daga. Þar kom um síðir, at Ingjaldr stóð einn upp. Kómu þeir engu sári á hann, ok náliga þótti þeim hann fara í lofti sem á jörðu. Þar kom um síðir, at þeir báru at honum skjöldu ok handtóku hann. Var hann þá settr í fjötur ok bogastrengr á hendr honum. Var þá svá myrkt af nótt, at þeim þótti eigi veganda at honum, en Víkingr vill eigi náttvíg vega. Þeir hlupu í borgina ok tóku Húnvöru ok Ingibjörgu ok fluttu til skipa ok lágu þar um nóttina, en um morguninn váru varðmenn dauðir, en Ingjaldr á burtu, en járnin lágu eftir óbrotin, en bönd óleyst. Ekki sást járnafar á varðmönnum. Þótti Ingjaldr hafa sýnt trölldóm sinn. Drógu nú upp segl ok sigldu í haf ok heim til Svíþjóðar.

Lét Víkingr þá búast við brullaupi ok gekk at eiga Húnvöru. Þá hafði Hálfdan uppi orð sín ok bað Ingibjargar jarlsdóttur. Var þá send orð Herfinni jarli á Ullarakr. En er jarl kom, tók hann þessu vel. Var þat at ráðum gert, at Hálfdan fekk Ingibjargar, ok var þegar við veizlu búizt ok gerr samgangr þeira. Sátu þeir þar um vetrinn. At sumri lögðu þeir í hernað ok höfðu tíu skip ok herjuðu um Austrveg ok varð gott til fjár ok heldu heim at hausti. Þrjú sumur váru þeir í hernaði ok heldu heim at vetrum. Váru engir menn frægri en þeir.

Þat var eitt sumar, at þeir heldu til Danmerkr. Herjuðu þeir þar ok lögðu inn á Limafjörð. Þar sáu þeir liggja níu skip, dreka it tíunda. Þeir lögðu þegar at skipunum ok spyrja, hverr fyrir réði. Hann nefndist Njörfi, -"ok á ek at ráða fyrir Upplöndum í Noregi. Hefik nú tekit við föðurleifð minni, en hvert er heiti þeira, er til eru komnir?"

Þeir segja til sín. Hálfdan segir: "Ek mun bjóða yðr kosti tvá sem öðrum víkingum, at þér leggið af fé yðvart, skip ok vápn, en gangið lausir á land."

Njörfi svarar: "Þat þykki mér harðr kostr. Mun ek heldr kjósa at verja fé mitt ok falla með drengskap, ef þess verðr auðit, heldr en flýja félausum með svívirðing, þótt þér hafið lið meira ok skip fleiri ok stærri."

Víkingr segir: "Ekki skal hafa ódrengskap við ok leggja at yðr fleirum skipum en þér hafið, ok skulu hjá liggja fimm vár skip."

Njörfi segir: "Þat er drengiliga mælt."

Bjuggust þeir þá til orrostu ok tóku til bardaga ok börðust um stafna á skipum sínum. Var þar in ákafasta sókn, því at Njörfi barðist alldjarfliga, en þeir fóstbræðr gengu hart fram.

Þrjá daga börðust þeir. Þóttust menn eigi vita, hvárir sigrast mundu.

Víkingr mælti: "Er mikit fé á skipum yðrum?"

Njörfi kvað þat eigi vera, -- "því at þar, sem vér höfum herjat í sumar, hafa bændr flúit undan með fé sitt. Hefir því orðit lítit til fjár."

"Óvitrligt þykki mér þat," segir Víkingr, "at berjast ekki nema fyrir kapp eitt ok spilla þar til margs manns blóði, eða viltu, at vit gerum félag með okkr?"

"Gott mun mér við þik félag at leggja," segir Njörfi, "þótt þú sért eigi konungborinn. Veit ek, at faðir þinn var jarl ok ágætr maðr. Vil ek með því fóstbræðralag binda, at þú heitir jarl, en ek konungr, sem vit erum til bornir, hvárt vit erum í mínu ríki eða öðrum."

Hálfdan þagði hjá, er þeir töluðust við. Víkingr spyrr, hví hann væri svá tillagafár.

Hálfdan mælti: "Mér þykkir sem vel sé, þótt þit játið slíku, en eigi kemr mér þat á óvart, þótt þú kennir nokkurn þunga af einhverjum þeim, er Njörfi er nástæðr. Vil ek hér engan hlut í eiga, hvárki letja né fýsa."

Var þetta gert, at Njörfi ok Víkingr sættust ok sórust í fóstbræðralag eftir þvílíkum skildaga sem áðr var sagt ok lögðu í hernað um sumarit ok öfluðu mikils fjár ok skildu at hausti. Helt Njörfi til Noregs en Víkingr til Svíþjóðar. Var Hálfdan í ferð með honum.

En er Víkingr hafði eigi lengi heima verit, tók Húnvör sótt ok andaðist. Þau áttu eftir einn son, er Hringr hét. Hann óx upp í Svíaveldi, þar til sem hann var fulltíða at aldri, ok varð þar konungr ok var skammlífr, ok er margt manna frá honum komit. En þeir lágu í hernaði hvert sumar fóstbræðr ok urðu frægir ok safna fjölda skipa, svá at þeir höfðu fjóra tigi skipa.

Ingjald Snout made great preparations, fortifying the walls of his burg (town, city) and collecting a great number of people, some of which were rabble of the worst kind. As soon as the foster-brothers had landed they harried the country with fire and sword; everybody was in fear of them, and before Ingjald was aware of it they had made a great plunder. Now he goes against them; they met, and a battle was fought. Halfdan and Viking thought they had never before been in so great danger as in this battle. The foster-brothers showed great bravery, and toward the end of the battle more men began to fall in Ingjald’s army. The battle lasted four days, and at last none but Ingjald remained on his feet. He could not be wounded at all, and seemed to move through the air as easily as on the ground. Finally, by surrounding him with shields, they succeeded in getting him captive, put him in chains, and bound his hands with a bow string. It was then so dark that they did not think it convenient to kill him on the spot, Viking being unwilling to slay a man at night-time. They ran into the burg and carried Hunvor and Ingeborg away to their ships. Here they lay during the night; but in the morning the warders were dead, and Ingjald was not to be found, his chains lying unbroken and the bow-string not untied. No mark of iron could be found on the warders, and thus it was clear that Ingjald had made use of troll-craft. Now they hoisted their sails, left this country, and directed their course homeward to Sweden.
Then Viking made preparations for the wedding, and married Hunvor. At the same time Halfdan began his suit and asked for the hand of Ingeborg, the daughter of the jarl. Word was sent to jarl Herfinn of Woolen Acre. He came and gave a favorable answer, and it was agreed that Halfdan should marry Ingeborg. Arrangements for the wedding were made, and the marriage ceremony was performed. The foster-brothers stayed there during the winter. The following summer they went abroad with then ships, waged wars in the Baltic, and having got great booty they returned home in the fall. Thus they lived as vikings three years, spending only the winters at home; and none were more famous than they.
One summer they sailed to Denmark; here they harried and entered the Limfjord, where they saw nine ships and a dragon lying at anchor. They immediately directed their fleet toward these ships, and asked for the name of the commander. He said he hight Njorfe, and added: I am the ruler of the Uplands in Norway, and I have just gotten my paternal heritage; but what is the name of the commander. He said he hight Njorfe, and added: I am the ruler of the Uplands in Norway, and I have just gotten my paternal heritage; but what is the name of those who have just come? They told him this. Said Halfdan: I will offer to you, as to other vikings, two conditions: the one what you give up your fee ships and weapons, and go ashore with us.
Answered Njorfe: This seems to me hard terms, and I choose rather to defend my fee, and, if need be, fall with bravery, than to flee feeless and dishonored, although you have a larger army and ships of greater size and number than mine.
Said Viking: We shall not be so mean as to attack you with more ships than you have; five of our ships shall therefore lie idle during the battle. Answered Njorfe: This is bravely spoken. And so they got ready for the battle, which then began. They fought with their ships stem to stem. The attack was very violent on both sides, for Njorfe fought with great daring, and the foster-brothers also showed great bravery. Three days they fought, but sill they did not seem to know who would win. Asked then Viking: Is there much fee in your ships? Answered Njorfe: No, for from those places where we have been harrying this summer the bondes fled with their fee, and hence but little booty has been taken. Said Viking” Unwise it seems to me to fight only for the sake of outdoing each other, and thus spill the blood of many men; but are you willing to form a league with us? Answered Njorfe: It will be good for me to form a league with you , although you are not a king’s son, for I know that your father was jarl, and an excellent man; and I am willing to have a foster-brotherhood formed between us on the condition that you hight jarl and I king, according to our birth-right, which must remain unchanged whether we are in my kingdom or in any other. During this talk Halfdan was silent. Viking asked why he had so little so say in the matter.
Answered Halfdan: It seems to me that it may be good to make such an agreement betwixt you; but I shall not be surprised if you should get to feel that some or other of Njorfe’s relatives become burdensome to you. I will however, have nothing to do with this matter–will neither dissuade nor encourage you. The result was, that Njorfe and Viking came to terms and formed a foster-brotherhood, giving oaths mutually on the terms which have before been state. They waged wars during the summer and took much booty; but in the fall they parted, Njorfe going to Norway, and Viking accompanied by Halfdan, to Sweden.
But soon after Viking had come home, Hunvor was taken sick and died. They had son, who hight Ring. He was brought up in Sweden until he was full-grown, and became a king of that country. He did not live long, but had a great many descendants. The foster-brothers kept on waging wars every summer and became very famous; during their warfares they gathered so many ships that they had fifty in all.
8. Dráp Ingjalds trönu Chapter 8

Þat er at segja frá Ingjaldi trönu, at hann safnar ógrynni hers ok leitar at þeim fóstbræðrum, Víkingi ok Hálfdani. Þat var eitt sumar, at þeir fundust í Austrvegi. Hafði Ingjaldr fjóra tigi skipa. Slær þar í bardaga. Berjast þeir svá, at ekki mátti í milli sjá, hvárir vinna mundu.

Um síðir réð Víkingr til uppgöngu á dreka Ingjalds ok Njörfi þegar eftir honum ok Hálfdan, ok ruddust um fast, svá at þeir drepa hvern mann eftir annan. Þá veðr Ingjaldr aftr eftir drekanum ok hafði atgeir stóran at vega með. Sóttu þeir fóstbræðr nú at Ingjaldi, ok var þat lengi dags, at þeir kómu engu sári á hann, ok þá er Ingjaldi þótti fast at herða, stökk hann fyrir borð ok Njörfi ok Hálfdan eftir honum, ok leggjast hvárir, er meira geta. Víkingr létti eigi fyrr en hann hafði drepit hvern mann á drekanum. Síðan hljóp hann í bát ok reri til lands. Ingjaldr lagðist þar til, er hann kemst at landi. Þá kómu þeir framan í lágarða Hálfdan ok Njörfi. Ingjaldr greip upp stein ok fleygði til Hálfdanar, en hann skýtr sér undan í kaf. Njörfi komst á land í því ok Hálfdan í öðrum stað. Sóttu þeir at Ingjaldi í ákafa, ok er þat hafði gengit lengi, þá heyrðu þeir gný mikinn. Litu þeir þangat, sem þeim heyrðist gnýrinn, en er þeir litu aftr, var Ingjaldr horfinn, en í staðinn kominn grimligr göltr ok lét ekki ógert. Sótti hann þá at þeim, svá at þeir máttu ekki annat gera en verja sik. Ok er þat hafði gengit nokkura stund, sneri göltrinn at Hálfdani ok greip allan kálfann af vinstra fæti honum. Í því kom Víkingr at ok höggr um þvera burstina á geltinum, svá at í sundr tók hrygginn. Sáu þeir, at Ingjaldr lá þar dauðr. Tóku þeir síðan eld ok brenndu hann upp at köldum kolum; fóru nú til skipa sinna ok binda sár Hálfdanar.

Eftir þat halda þeir í burt ok norðr til eyjar þeirar, er Þruma heitir. Þar réð fyrir sá maðr, er Refill hét, sonr Mæfils sækonungs. Hann átti þá dóttur, er Finna hét. Hún var kvenna fríðust ok bezt at sér ger um alla hluti. Hálfdan bað hennar, ok með atgangi Njörfa konungs, en vaskleika Víkings, fekk hann þetta ráð. Léttu þeir fóstbræðr þá hernaði sínum. Settist ok Njörfi konungr at ríki sínu. Staðfestist Víkingr þar ok varð jarls hans, en Hálfdan gerðist hersir ríkr ok bjó á þeim bæ, er í Vágum hét. Þar var stórr fjallvegr í millum, er Víkingr jarl átti fyrir at ráða. Heldu þeir sinni vináttu, meðan þeir lifðu, en færa var með þeim Hálfdani ok Njörfa.

It must be told of Ingjald Snout, that he gathered an innumerable army and went to search for he foster-brothers, Viking and Halfdan. And one summer they met in the Baltic, Ingjald having forty ships. It came straightway to a fight, and they fought in such a manner that it was not way to see which side would win. At last Viking, immediately followed by Njorfe and Halfdan, tried to board Ingjald’s dragon. They made a great havoc, killing one man after the other. Then Ingjald rushed toward the stern of the dragon, with a great atgeir (a kind of javelin) ready for slaughter. Now the foster-brothers attacked Ingjald, and although they fought a large part of the day with him they did not wound him, and when the fight seemed to Ingjald to grow very hot, he sprang overboard, followed by Njorfe and Halfdan, both swimming as fast as they could. Viking did not stop fighting before he had slain every man on the dragon, after which he jumped into a boat and rowed ashore. Ingjald kept swimming till the reached the land, and then Halfdan and Njorfe were drawing near to the surf. Ingjald took a stone and threw it at Halfdan, but he dodged under the water. Meanwhile Njorfe landed, and Halfdan soon after him, in another place. They attacked Ingjald mightily, and having fought thus for a long time, they heard a great crash, and looked thither whence it they heard the crash, but on turning their faces back, Ingjald was out of sight, and instead of him there was a grim-looking boar, that left nothing undone as he attacked them, so they could do nothing but defend themselves. When this had been done some time, the boar turned upon Halfdan, bearing away the whole calf of his leg. Straightway came Viking and smote the bristles of the boar, so that his back was cut in two. Then seeing that Ingjald lay dead on the spot, they kindled a fire and burned him to ashes. Now they went back to their ships and bound up the wounds of Halfdan. After this they sailed away from this place north to an isle called Thruma, and ruled by a man who hight Refil a son of the sea-king Mefil. He had a daughter who hight Finna, a maid of surpassing fairness and accomplishments. Viking courted her, and with king Njorfe’s help, and Halfdan’s bravery , the marriage was agreed to. Then the foster-brothers ended their warfaring. King Njorfe established himself in his kingdom, and Viking took his abode with him and became his jarl, abut Halfdan was made a great herser and dwelt on his byre, called Vags. His land was separated by a mountain from that which was ruled by jarl Viking. They held to their friendship as long as they lived, but it was more cold between Halfdan and Njorfe.
9. Frá sonum Njörfa ok Víkings chapter 9

Sá konungr réð fyrir Firðafylki, er Óláfr hét ok var Eysteinsson, bróðir Önundar, föður Ingjalds illráða. Allir váru þeir ótryggvir ok illir viðrskiptis. Hann átti sér dóttur þá, er Bryngerðr hét. Njörfi fekk hennar ok hafði hana með sér ok átti við henni níu sonu: Jökull var elztr þeira bræðra, Óláfr hét annarr, Grímr, Geitir, Teitr, Tyrfingr, Björn, Geirr, Grani ok Tóki. Þeir váru allir efniligir menn. Þó var Jökull fyrir þeim um alla atgervi. Metnaðarmaðr var hann svá mikill, at honum þótti ekki koma til jafns við sik. Óláfr gekk næst honum um allar íþróttir, en óeirinn ok ódæll um allt ok ójafnaðarfullr. Svá mátti kalla þá alla bræðr, ok váru miklir menn fyrir sér.

Víkingr átti ok níu sonu: Þorsteinn hét inn elzti sonr hans, annarr Þórir, Finnr, Úlfr, Steinn, Hrómundr, Finnbogi, Eysteinn ok Þorgeirr. Váru þeir efniligir menn ok íþróttamenn miklir. Þó var Þorsteinn fyrir þeim um alla hluti. Hann var manna mestr ok sterkastr, vingóðr ok vinfastr, tryggr ok trúr í öllum hlutum, seinþreyttr til allra vandræða, en galt grimmliga, ef hans var leitat. Varla þóttust menn vita hversdagliga, hvárt honum þótti vel eða illa, þótt mót honum væri gert, en löngu síðar lét hann sem nýgert væri. Þórir var skjótlyndr ok ákafamaðr inn mesti. Svall honum allt á æði, ef honum var mein gert eða í móti skapi. Sást hann ok ekki fyrir, við hverja sem um var at eiga eða hvat eftir kom, ok lét þat allt verða fram at ganga, er honum kom í hug at gera. Allra manna var hann fimastr á alla leika ok manna sterkastr. Hann gekk næst Þorsteini, bróður sínum.

Þessir ungu menn óxu upp allir senn í ríkinu.

Á fjallveg þeim, er millum var byggða Víkings ok Hálfdanar, var ein gjá furðu djúp. Þrjátigi alna var þar yfir gjána, er stytzt var. Kómust þar engir menn yfir, ok því váru engir vegir yfir þat fjall. Þat höfðu þeir Njörvi konungr ok Víkingr jarl ok Hálfdan prófat, hversu þeim gekk at hlaupa yfir gjána, ok gekk Víkingr í öllum herklæðum sínum, en Njörfi bjó sik sem léttligast til, en Hálfdan með því einu, at Víkingr tæki í móti honum.

Sátu þeir nú allir um kyrrt langan tíma. Rénaði aldri vinátta þeira Víkings jarls ok Njörfa konungs.


A King, hight Olaf, ruled Fjord-fylke (the country of the fjords). He was a son of Eystein and a brother of Onund, who was the father of Ingjald the Wicked. They were all unsafe and wicked in their dealings. King Olaf had a daughter who hight Bryngerd, whom Njorfe married, took her with him, and got with her nine sons: Olaf, Grim, Geiter, Teit, Tyrfing, Bjorn, Geir, Grane and Toke. They were all promising men, though Jokul far surpassed them all in all accomplishments. He was so haughty that he thought everything below himself . Olaf stood next to him, as a man skillful in all deeds; but he was of a noisy, troublesome and overbearing temperament, and the same might be said of all his brothers, and they boasted very much. Viking had nine sons, the eldest of whom was Thorstein, and the others hight Thorer, Finn, Ulf, Stein, Romund, Finnboge, Eystein and Thorgeir. They were hopeful men, of great skill in action , though Thorstein held the highest rank among them in everything. He was the largest and strongest of men; he was popular, steadfast in his friendship, faithful and reliable in all things. He could not easily be provoked to do harm, but when attacked he revenged himself grimly. If he was insulted, it could scarcely be seen in his daily life whether he liked it or not, but long afterward he would act as if he had just been injured. Thorer was of a most sanguine and vehement temperament; if injured or affronted he would suddenly be seized by an irresistible rage, and, no matter whom he had to do with, or what the result might be, he never hesitated to do whatsoever came into his mind. He was a most adroit man in all kinds of games, and a man of uncommon strength. He was second only to his brother Thorstein. These young men grew up together n the kingdom. In the mountain separating Viking’s and Halfdan’s lands there was a chasm of fearful depth and of a breadth of thirty ells at the narrowest, so that it was perfectly impassable for human beings. And hence the mountain was not crossed by any paths. It had been tried by king Njorfe and jarl Viking and Halfdan how easily they might leap over the chasm. The result was, that Viking had leaped over it in full armor, Njorfe had done it in his lightest clothes, but Halfdan had only done it by being received on the other side by Viking. Now they all kept quiet for a long time, and the friendship of jarl Viking and king Njorfe remained unimpaired.
10. Þórir vá Óláf Njörfason chapter 10

Þeir Njörfi ok Víkingr gerðust gamlir at aldri. Tóku synir þeira mjök at vaxa. Jökull gerðist ofstopamaðr mikill ok óeirinn um alla hluti. Nær var um aldr þeira Njörfasona ok Víkingssona. Váru þá, er þessi saga gerðist, inir yngstu tólf vetra, en þeir Þorsteinn ok Jökull á tvítugs aldri. Þeir lögðu leika með sér Njörfasynir ok Víkingssynir, ok gekk engu verr Víkingssonum. Á því lék konungssonum mikill metnaðr. Var Jökull í því sem öllu öðru inn kappsamasti. Var þat auðsét, at Þorsteinn eirði undan í öllum hlutum. Ekki varð Þorsteini þat til ámælis. Þorsteinn bar langt af bræðrum sínum ok öllum öðrum, þeim er menn til vissu. Hafði Víkingr jarl varat við sonu sína, at þeir skyldi eigi halda til kapps við konungssonu um neina leika, spara heldr afl sitt ok framgirni.

Þat var einn dag, at þeir höfðu knattleika konungssynir ok Víkingssynir. Gekk þá enn með miklu kappi fyrir þeim Njörfasonum. Hlífðist Þorsteinn þá enn við eftir vanda. Þeim Jökli var skipat saman, en þeim Óláfi ok Þóri ok svá, hverjum sem aldr hafði til. Gekk nú svá um daginn. Þat bar til, at Þórir setti niðr knöttin svá hart, at hann stökk yfir Óláf ok kom fjarri niðr. Óláfr reiddist þá ok þótti Þórir gera leik til sín. Sótti hann þá knöttinn. En er hann kom aftr, váru menn í leysingu ok ætluðu heim at fara. Óláfr sló þá með knatttrénu til Þóris, en er hann sá þat, hljóp hann undir höggit, ok kom tréit í höfuðit, ok sprakk fyrir. Þorsteinn hljóp þá í milli ok fleiri menn aðrir. Urðu þeir þá skildir.

Jökull mælti: "Eigi mun yðr þetta mikils þykkja vert, þótt Þórir fengi einn hnekkistikil í höfuðit."

Þórir roðnaði við orð Jökuls, ok skildu við svá búit. Þórir mælti þá: "Mér hafa legit eftir glófar mínir. Mun Jökull virða mér til hræðslu, ef ek þori ekki at sækja þá."

Þorsteinn mælti: "Eigi þykki mér þat ráð, at þit Óláfr finnizt."

"Fara mun ek sem áðr," segir Þórir, "því at þeir eru heim farnir."

Þórir gekk þá snúðigt aftr, ok er hann kom aftr á leikvöllinn, váru þeir allir á burt. Þórir gekk þá heim á veg til hallarinnar.

Þat var allt jafnsnemma, at konungssynir kómu heim til hallarinnar ok stóðu undir hallarveggnum. Þórir snaraðist þá at Ólafi ok lagði at honum miðjum með spjóti, svá at í gegnum stóð. Snerist hann þá á burt, ok festu þeir eigi fang á honum. Styrmdu þeir þá yfir Óláfi dauðum, en Þórir fór, til þess er hann fann bræðr sína.

Þorsteinn spyrr þá: "Hví er blóð á spjóti þínu, frændi?"

"Því," segir Þórir, "at ek veit eigi, nema hann Óláfr hafi skeinzt á oddinum."

"Þá muntu segja hann dauðan," segir Þorsteinn.

"Mér þykkir verða mega," segir Þórir, "þótt Jökull sé atgervismaðr um flest, at þó fái hann eigi grætt Óláf, bróður sinn."

"Illa er nú orðit," segir Þorsteinn, "því at ek veit, at föður mínum mislíkar."

En er þeir kómu heim, var Víkingr jarl úti ok var allfálátr. Hann mælti: "Svá fór sem mik varði um þik, Þórir, at þú mundir mestr ógæfumaðr af öllum mínum sonum. Þykkir mér þú nú þat hafa sýnt, er þú hefir orðit at bana sjálfum konungssyninum."

"Þat er nú ráð, faðir, at hjálpa syni þínum, þótt hann hafi hrapat í ógiftu. Hefir þú nóg brögð til þess. Þykki mér þú þat enn sýnt hafa, er þú vissir fyrir víg Óláfs ok sagði þér þat engi."

Víkingr sagði: "Eigi vinn ek þat til lífs Þóris at rjúfa eiða mína, því at vit Njörfi konungr höfum þat svarit báðir, at hvárr skyldi öðrum trúr ok hollr bæði leyniliga ok opinberliga. Þat hefir hann haldit í öllum greinum. Nú vil ek því eigi hafa verr en hann, at ek haldi stríði í móti honum, því at þat var eitt skeið, at mér var Njörfi konungr ekki óástfólgnari en synir mínir. Þarf ok ekki um þat at tala, at ek veiti Þóri enga hjálp. Skal hann ok burt verða ok koma aldri fyrir mín augu."

Þorsteinn mælti: "Hví munum vér þá ekki allir í burt fara bræðr, því at ekki munum vér við Þóri skilja? Skal ok eitt yfir okkr ganga."

"Því ræðr þú, frændi," segir jarl, "en mikil þykki mér ógifta Þóris, ef þat hlýzt af honum, at ek missi sonu mína alla ok þar með vináttu konungs, er bezt er at sér gerr um alla hluti, ok hér með þat lítils er vert, at ek missi lífit. En þat eina gleðr mik, at engum mun lagit verða at standa yfir þínum höfuðsvörðum, en þó mun þér nær ekit verða, ok muntu þat allt af Þóri hljóta, en þó er skaði at honum nokkurr fyrir karlmennsku sakir. Nú er hér sverð, Þorsteinn frændi, er ek vil gefa þér, er Angrvaðill heitir, ok hefir jafnan fylgt því sigr. Þat tók faðir minn af Birni blátönn dauðum. Ekki hefik fleira vápna, svá at afbragð sé á, utan kesju forna, er ek tók af Háreki járnhaus, ok veit ek, at hún er engum manni vápnfær. Nú ef þú vilt burt fara, Þorsteinn frændi, þá legg ek þat til með þér, at þú farir upp til vatns þess, er heitir Vænir. Þar mun standa bátr einn í hrófi, er ek á. Far á honum í hólm þann, er liggr í vatninu. Þar mun vera í skáli ok svá mikill kostr ok klæði, at yðr megi nægja um tólf mánuði. Geymið vel bátinn, því at ekki eru fleiri skip í nánd."

Síðan skildu þeir feðgar. Allir höfðu þeir góð klæði ok herklæði, er faðir þeira hafði fengit þeim áðr þetta varð. Þorsteinn fór ok bræðr hans, þar til er þeir fundu bátinn, reru í hólminn ok fundu skálann. Var þar allnóg þat, er hafa þurfti, ok settust þar um kyrrt.

Njorfe and Viking became old, and their sons were reapidly advancing in growth. Jokul became in all things a violent and restless man. The sons of Njorfe were of nearly the same age as the sons of Viking, the youngest ones being at this point of our Saga about twelve years old, while Thorstein and Jokul wee at the age of twenty. The sons of Njorfe used to play with the sons of Viking, and the latter were in no way below the former. This made the sons of the king very jealous, and in their jealousy, as in all other things, Jokul surpassed all; and it was easy to see that Thorstein yielded to Jokul in all things, nor was this any reproach to him. Thorstein far surpassed all his brothers and all other men known. Jarl Viking had warned his sons not to vie with the sons of the king in any games, but rather to spare their strength and eagerness.
One day the king’s sons and the sons of Viking were playing ball, and the game was played very eagerly by the sons of Njorfe. Thorstein, as usual, checked his zeal. He was placed against Jokul, and Thorer was placed against Olaf, and the others were placed in the same manner, according to their age. Thus the day was spent. It happened that Thorer threw the ball on the ground so hard that it bounded over Olaf and fell down again far off. At this Olaf turned angry, thinking that Thorer was mocking him. He fetched the ball; but when he came back the game was being broken up, and the people were going home, Olaf then with the ball-club struck after Thorer, who, seeing it dodged the blow in such a manner that the club touched his head and wounded it. But Thorstein, together with many other people , hurried betwixt them and parted them. Said Jokul: I suppose you think it a thing of no great weight that Thorer got a bump on his head. Thorer blushed at Jokul’s words, and thus they parted. Said Thorer then: I have left my gloves behind, and if I do not fetch them Jokul will lay it to my fear.
Answered Thorstein: I do not think it advisable that you and Olaf meet.
Nevertheless I will go, said Thorer, for they have gone home. So saying, he turned back at a swinging pace, and when he came to the play-ground everybody had left it.
Then Thorer turned his steps toward the hall of the king. At the same moment the sons of the king also came home to the hall, and stood near the wall of the hall. Then Thorer turned toward Olaf and stabbed his waist, so that the spear passed through his body; whereupon he withdrew and escaped out of their hands. They, on the other hand, had a great ado over Olaf’s corpse; but Thorer went until he found his brother. Now asked him Thorstein: Why is there blood on your spear, brother?
Answered Thorer: Because I do not know whether Olaf has not perhaps been wounded by the point of it. Said Thorstein: You perhaps tell of his death.
Quoth Thorer: It may be that Jokul will not be able to heal the wound of his brother Olaf, though he be a very skillful man in almost all things. Answered Thorstein: This is a sorry thing that now has happened; for I know that my father will dislike it. And when they came home jarl Viking was out-doors, and looked very stern. Said he: What I looked for from you, Thorer, has now come to pass, that you would be the most luck-forsaken of all my sons. This you have shown, as I think, by killing the son of the king himself. Answered Thorstein: Now is the time father, to help your son, although he has fallen into ill-luck; and that you know means for his purpose I think you have shown by your being aware of Olaf’s death while nobody had told you of it. Answered Viking: I am unwilling to sacrifice so much to break my oaths for the life of Thorer: for both of us, king Njorfe and I, have sworn to be faithful and trusty to each other, both in private and public matters. These oaths he has kept in all matters. Now I will not, therefore, show myself worse than he has been; but this I would do if I should fight against him, for there was a time when king Njorfe was as dear to me as my own sons, and it needs not be hinted at that I should give Thorer any help; he must leave, and never more come before my eyes. Answered Thorstein: Why should not all of us brothers then leave home? For we will not part with Thorer, but will stand by one another for weal or for woe. Answered the jarl: That is a mater that rests with you, my son; but great I must call the ill-luck of Thorer, if he is the be the cause of my losing all my sons and my friendship with the king too, who is the doughtiest man in all things, and besides these, my life, which is, however, worth but little. But there is one thing that makes me glad, and that is that it will not fall to the lot of any one to put you to death, although your escape will be narrow enough, and this will all be caused by Thorer’s ill-luck; nevertheless, the loss of him will be felt on account of his valor. Now, my son Thorstein, here is a sword, which I will give to you Angervadil is its name, and it has always had victory with it; my father took it from Bjorn Blue-tooth at his death. I have no other distinguished weapons except an old kesia, which I took from Harek Ironhead; but I know that nobody is able to wield it as a weapon. Now if you are going to leave home, my son Thorstein, then it is my advice that you go up to a lek named Vener; there you will find a boat belonging to me, standing in a boat-house; go in it to a holm which lies in the lake; there you will find in a shed food and clothes enough to last you twelve months; take good care of the boat, for there are no more ship in the neighborhood
Hereupon the brothers parted with their father. The brother all had good clothes and armor, which had been given them by their father before this happened. Thorstein and his brothers went until they found the boat. Then they rowed to the holm, and found the shed; here enough of all things which they needed, and they took up their abode there.
11. Frá Ógautan ok Jökli chapter 11

Nú er þar til at taka, at Jökull ok þeir bræðr sögðu víg Óláfs föður sínum, -- "ok er eigi til annat," segir Jökull, "en safna liði, fara heim at Víking ok brenna hann inni ok sonu hans alla, ok vær þó varla fullhefnt Óláfs."

Njörfi segir: "Þat banna ek með öllu, at nokkurt mein sé Víking gert. Veit ek, at þetta eru ekki hans ráð um líf sonar míns. Eru hér allir saklausir af nema Þórir. En vit Víkingr höfum svarizt í fóstbræðralag. Hefir hann þat allt bezt haldit. Skal ek ok engan ófrið efla honum á hendr. Þykki mér Óláfr ekki at bættari, þótt Þórir sé drepinn ok aukinn svá harmr Víkingi."

Fekk Jökull nú engan styrk af föður sínum til þessa. Var Óláfr heygðr eftir vanda fornum. Tók Jökull þá at halda sveit manna. Njörfi konungr tók fast at eldast, svá at Jökull hafði landvörn at mestu.

Þat var einn dag, at tveir menn gengu fyrir Njörfa, ok váru báðir í bláum heklum. Þeir kvöddu konung. Konungr spurði þá af heiti. Annarr nefndist Gautan, en annarr Ógautan. Þeir beiddu konung vetrvistar.

Konungr sagði: "Illa lízt mér á ykkr. Mun ek ekki við ykkr taka."

Jökull mælti: "Eruð þit íþróttamenn nokkurir?"

Ógautan mælti: "Lítit er allt um þat, en þó vitum vit fleira en okkr er sagt."

"Þá þykki mér ráð," segir Jökull, "at þit farið í flokk minn ok verið með mér. Svá gerðu þeir. Jökull gerði við þá vel.

Þat hafði frétzt til konungs hallar, at Víkingr hafði rekit burtu sonu sína. Jökull vildi því ekki trúa ok fór til Víkings með mikit fjölmenni. Víkingr frétti, hvat hann vildi. Jökull spyrr, hvat hann vissi til óhappamannsins Þóris. Víkingr kvaðst hafa rekit þá burt ok þeir væri ekki þar. Jökull beiddist at rannsaka herbergi. Víkingr lét þat til reiðu, en segir konung þat eigi ætlat hafa, at hann mundi bregðast sér. Rannsökuðu þeir húsin ok fundu eigi, sem ván var, ok fóru heim við svá búit. Þótti Jökli illa, er hann spyrr ekki til þeira bræðra.

Jökull mælti þá til þeira Ógautans: "Muntu ekki víss verða með listum þínum, hvar þeir bræðr eru niðr komnir?"

"Eigi mun þat," segir Ógautan. "Þú skalt fá okkr bræðrum eitt hús at sofa í, ok þar skal engi koma fyrr en þú ok þó eigi fyrr en á þriggja daga fresti."

Lét Jökull svá gera. Var þeim fengin ein skemma at sofa í. Jökull lagði ríkt við, ef nokkurr nefndi þá, ok skyldi engu fyrir týna nema lífinu. Snemma þenna dag kom Jökull í skemmuna til þeira bræðra.

Ógautan mælti þá: "Þú ert bráðlátr, Jökull, því at ek er nývaknaðr, en þó má ek segja þér til Víkingssona. Þú munt vita, hvar vatn þat er, sem Vænir heitir. Þar stendr í hólmr ok skáli. Þar eru þeir Víkingssynir."

Jökull mælti: "Ef þetta er sem þú segir, þá sé ek enga ván til, at þeim verði nát."

Ógautan mælti: "Allt þykki mér þér verða sem móðurlausu barni, ok litlu ætla ek þú orkir, ef þú ert einn at. Nú vil ek," segir Ógautan, "segja þér, at ek á einn belg, þann er veðrbelgr heitir, en ef ek hristi hann, þá stendr ór honum stormr ok vindr með svá stórri grimm ok kulda, at innan þriggja nátta skal lagðr svá sterkr íss á vatnit, at ríða skal mega hestum, þótt vili."

"Þat er þó satt at segja," sagði Jökull, "at þú er mikill listarmaðr, ok má með þessu einu komast í hólmann, því at skip eru ekki nema við sjó, ok færir þau engi svá langan veg."

Eftir þat tók Ógautan belg sinn ok hristi. Kom þar ór mikil óveðran sakir fjúks grimmdar, at engi maðr mátti úti vera. Þótti mönnum þetta undrum gegna. En at liðnum þremr nóttum var hvert vatn ok fjörðr lagðr. Jökull safnar mönnum saman, ok verða þrír tigir manna.

Ekki var Njörfa konungi um þessa ferð, sagði sér svá hugr um segja, at honum mundi aukast harmr, en minnka eigi, - "mun ek missa í þessari ferð flesta alla sonu mína ok marga menn aðra. Mundi svá betr hafa verit, er ek vildi í fyrstu, at vér hefðim sætzt við Þóri ok haft vináttu Víkings jarls ok sona hans."  

Now it is to be told that Jokul and his brothers told of the death of Olaf to their father. Said Jokul: This is the only thing to be done, that we bring together an army and march to the house of Viking and burn him and all his sons alive in their house, and even this would scarcely be vengeance enough for Olaf’s death.
Said Njorfe: I wholly forbid that any harm be done to Viking, for I know that my son has not been slain by his advice, and no one is guilty of this but Thorer. But Viking and I have sworn to each other an oath of brotherhood, and this oath he has kept better than anyone else, and hence I shall not wage any war against him, for I do not think Olaf will be atoned for in the least by slaying Thorer, and thus giving more grief to Viking.
And so Jokul did not get any help in this matter from his father. Olaf was buried with the usual ceremonies of olden times, and from this time Jokul began to keep a suit of men. King Njorfe was already growing very old, so that Jokul for he most part had to ward the land.
One day it happened that two men went before Njorfe, both dressed in blue frocks. They greeted the king. He asked them for their names. One of them said he hight Gautan, the other said he hight Ogautan, and they bade the king give them winter quarter.
Answered the king: To me you look ugly, and I will not receive you.
Said Jokul: have you any accomplishments:
Answered Ogautan: As to that, we have not much to boast of; still we know many more things than people have spoken to us about. Said Jokul: It seems best to me then that you enter my suite and stay with me. So they did. Jokul did well by them. It had been heard at the king’s hall that Viking had banished his sons. Jokul was unwilling to believe it, and went to Viking with a large suite. Viking asked what his errand was, and Jokul asked him what he knew about the miscreant Thorer. Viking told him that he had banished his sons, so that they did not live there. Jokul asked to be allowed to search the rooms of the house. Viking granted this, but said the king would not have thought that he would deceive him. They then searched the rooms, but as might be expected, found nothing; and having done this they returned home. Jokul did not like that he heard nothing of the brothers, and do he said to Ogautan and his comrade: Would not you by your cunning be able to find out where the brothers have their dwelling-place? I guess not, answered Ogautan; you are nevertheless to let me and my brother have a house to sleep in, and nobody must come there before you, nor must you visit the house until after three days. Jokul saw that this was done, and a small separate house was assigned for them to sleep in. Jokul positively forbade all people mentioned them, and he threatened the transgressor of his orders with certain death. Early on the day agreed upon Jokul dame to the house of the brothers.
Said then Ogautan: You are too hasty, Jokul, for I have just awaked; still I can tell you about the sons of Viking. You know, I suppose, where there is a lake called Vener. In it is a holm, and on the holm a shed, and there are the sons of Viking. Answered Jokul: If what you say is so, then I have no hope of their being overtaken.
Said Ogautan: In all things you seem to me to act like a motherless child, and I do not think you will be able to do much alone. Now I will tell you, continued Ogautan, that I have a belg (skin-bag) called the weather-belg. If I shake it, storm and wind will blow out of it, together with such biting frost and cold that within three nights the lake shall be covered with so strong an ice that you may cross it on horseback if you wish.
Said Jokul: Really you are a man of great cunning; and this is the only way of reaching the holm, for there are no ships before you get to the sea, and nobody can carry them so far.
Hereupon Ogautan took his belg and shook it, and out of it there came so fearful a snowstorm and such biting frost that nobody could be out of doors. This was a thing of great wonder to all; and after three nights every water and fjord was frozen. Then Jokul gathered together men to the number of thirty.
King Njorfe did not like this journey, and said his mind told him it would cause him more and not less sorrow; for in this journey, he said, I will loose the most of my sons and a great many other men, It would have been better if we, according to my will in the beginning , had come to terms with Thorer, and thus kept the friendship of jarl Viking and his sons.
12. Bardagi Njörfasona ok Víkingssona chapter 12

Nú býst Jökull við þrjá tigi manna ok at auk Gautan ok Ógautan. Þenna morgun vaknar Þorsteinn í skála sínum ok mælti: "Vakir þú, Þórir?"

"Vaki ek," segir hann, "en sofit hefi ek hér til."

"Þat vil ek," segir Þorsteinn, "at vér búumst burt ór skálanum, því at ek veit, at Jökull kemr hér í dag við marga menn."

"Ekki hygg ek þat," segir Þórir, "ok vil hvergi fara, eða hvat hefir þú at marki?"

"Mik dreymdi," segir Þorsteinn, "at hingat runnu þrjátigi vargar, ok váru sjau bjarndýr ok inn áttundi rauðkinni, hann var mikill ok grimmligr, ok at auk tvær refkeilur. Þær fóru fyrir flokkinum ok váru heldr illiligar, ok á þeim var mér mestr óþokki. Vargarnir sóttu at oss allir, ok þótti mér þar koma um síðir, at þeir rifu í sundr alla bræðr mína nema þik einn, ok þó felltu. Marga þótti mér vér drepa björnuna, en alla drap ek vargana ok ina minni refkeiluna, enda fell ek þá."

"Hvat ætlar þú merkja draum þenna?" segir Þórir.

"Þat ætla ek," segir Þorsteinn, "at rauðkinni sá inn stóri sé fylgja Jökuls, en birnirnir sé fylgjur bræðra hans, en vargarnir munu mér sýnzt hafa svá margir sem menn munu vera með þeim, því at þeir munu hafa varga hug á oss, en þar at auk váru refkeilur tvær. Þekki ek ekki þá menn, er þær fylgjur munu eiga. Þat ætlak, at þeir sé nýkomnir til Jökuls ok munu vera óþokkasælir af flestum mönnum. Nú hefik sagt þér þessa ætlan, ok munu vár skipti svá fara sem mér hefir þótt í svefninum. Vilda ek, at vér forðuðumst vandræði."

"Ekki ætla ek þetta nema draumaskrímsl," segir Þórir, "ok hugarboð þitt, enda væri eigi ógaman, þótt vér reyndum með oss."

"Ekki þykki mér svá," kvað Þorsteinn, "ok hygg ek, at ójafnliga sé til ætlat. Vilda ek, at vér bjuggumst í burt."

Þórir kveðst þat eigi vilja, ok varð svá at vera. Þorsteinn stóð upp ok tók vápn sín ok svá bræðr hans allir. Þórir var inn tómlátasti.

Var þat allt jafnsnemma, er þeir váru búnir, at Jökull kom at með menn sína. Tvær dyrr váru á skálanum. Varði Þorsteinn dyrr aðrar ok þrír bræðr hans, en Þórir aðrar við fimmta mann. Tókst þá sókn in harðasta. Vörðust þeir bræðr harðla vel, en Jökull sótti svá fast at þeim dyrum, sem Þórir var við, at þá fellu þrír bræðr hans, en einn hrökk ór dyrunum ok þangat, sem Þorsteinn var. Varði Þórir þá enn nokkura stund dyrrnar, en vildi með engu móti hopa. Snarast hann þá út ór dyrunum ok komst fram á ísinn hjá þeim. Slá þeir þá hring í kringum hann, en hann verst ágæta vel En er Þorsteinn sá þat, hleypr hann út ór skálanum ok bræðr hans, þeir er eftir lifðu, ofan á ísinn, þar sem Þórir var. Varð þa enn hörð hríð. Þorsteinn ok Þórir váru mjök stórhöggvir. Þar kom um síðir at, at allir bræðr Þorsteins váru fallnir nema Þorsteinn ok Þórir. Fallnir váru ok Njörfa synir allir nema Jökull ok Grímr.

Þorsteinn gerðist þá furðu móðr, svá at hann gat varla staðit. Sér hann þá, at hann mun falla. Váru ok allir fallnir nema Gautan ok Ógautan af hinum. Þórir var þá bæði móðr ok sárr. Þá tók at dimma fast af nótt. Þorsteinn snarast þá at Gautan ok leggr Angrvaðli í gegnum hann, enda fell hann þá í valnum. Stóðu þeir þá þrír upp Jökull, Grímr ok Ógautan. Leituðu þeir þá Þorsteins í valnum. Þóttust þeir þá finna hann, en þat var Finnr, bróðir Þorsteins, því at þeir váru svá líkir, at hvárugan mátti frá öðrum kenna. Grímr segir Þorstein dauðan. Ógautan segir, at þat skyldi ekki um grun gera, ok hjó af honum höfuðit, ok blæddi eigi, því at Finnr var dauðr.

Síðan fóru þeir burt ok heim. Spyrr Njörfi konungr, hversu farit hefði með þeim. Lét konungr lítt yfir ferð þeira ok kveðst nú hafa fengit meiri skaða en þótt hann missti Óláfs, sonar síns, látit nú sjau sonu sína ok fjölda annarra manna. Settist Jökull nú um kyrrt.

Now Jokul got himself ready for the journey together with his thirty men, and besides them Gautan and Ogautan. The same morning Thorstein awoke in his shed and said: Are you awake, Thorer? Answered he: I am, but I have been sleeping until now. Said Thorstein: It is my will that we get ourselves ready for leaving the shed, for I know that Jokul will come here today together with many men. Answered Thorer: I do not think so, and I am unwilling to go at all; or have you any sign of this” I dreamt, said Thorstein, that twenty-two wolves were running hither, and besides them there were seven bears, and the eighth one, a red-cheeked bear, large and grim-looking. And besides these there were two she-foxes leading the party; the latter were very ugly-looking, and seemed to me the most disgusting of all. All the wolves attacked us, and at last they seemed to tear to pieces all my brother excepting you alone and yet you fell. Many of the bears we slew, and the wolves I killed, and the smaller one of the foxes, but then I fell. Asked Thorer” What do you think this dream means” Made answer Thorstein” I think that the large red-cheeked bear must be the fylgja (follower, guardian-spirit) of Jokul, and the other bears the fylgias of his brothers; but the wolves undoubtedly were, to my mind, as many as the men who came with them; for, certainly they are wolfishly-minded toward us. But besides them there were two she-foxes, and I do not know any men to whom such fylgias belong; I therefore suppose that some persons hated by almost everybody have lately come to Jokul, and thus these fylgias may belong to them. Now, I have told you this my thought about the matter, and we will have to act in the matter pointed out to me in my sleep, and I would that we might avoid all trouble. Says Thorer: I think your dream has been nothing but a scare-crow and idle forebodings, still it would not be uninteresting to try our mutual strength. Quoth Thorstein: I do not think so; it seems to me that an unequal meeting is intended, and I should like that we might get ready to go away from here. Thorer said he would not go away, and it had to be as he would have it. Thorstein arose and took his weapons, and all his brothers did likewise, but Thorer was very slow about it. At the very time when they had gotten themselves ready, Jokul came up with his men. The shed had two doors, one of which Thorstein guarded together with three of his brothers, the other was guarded by Thorer together with four men. A sharp attack then began; the brothers warded themselves bravely, but Jokul attacked the door warded by Thorer so strongly that three of his brothers fell, but one of them was driven out of the door to the spot where Thorstein stood. Thorer still guarded the door for a while, being by no means willing to yield. Then he turned out of the door and found his way among the enemies down upon the ice. They surrounded him, but he defended himself very bravely. Thorstein seeing this, ran out of the shed together with those of his brothers who were yet alive, went down onto the ice where Thorer was standing, and now a fierce combat took place. Thorstein and Thorer dealt many heavy blows, and at last all the brothers had fallen excepting Thorstein and Thorer; and all the sons of Njorfe had also fallen save Jokul and Grim. Then Thorstein became very weary, so that he was hardly able to stand. He saw that he would fall; and of the opposite party all had fallen but Gautan and Ogautan. Now Thorer was both weary and wounded, and the night was already growing very dark. Just then Thorstein turned against Gautan and stabbed him through his body with Angervadil, so that he fell to the ground among the other dead bodies. Then three men, Jokul, Grim, and Ogautan, arose and searched for Thorstein among the slain, and they thought they had found him, but the person they found was Jokul’s brother, Finn, for they were so much like each other that it was impossible to know them apart. Grim said Thorstein was dead. Said Ogautan, That shall be put beyond a doubt, and he cut his head off, but of course it did not bleed, for he was already dead. After this they went home. King Njorfe asked them how the meeting had turned out, and learning this, he did not approve it at all, saying that now had lost much more than his son Olaf, his seven sons and many other men having died. Now Jokul kept quiet.
13. Græddir Þorsteinn ok Þórir chapter 13

Þat er nú þessu næst, at Þorsteinn liggr í valnum ok má sér ekki fyrir mæði, en lítt var hann sárr. En er á leið nóttina, heyrði hann, at vagn gekk eftir ísnum. Þar næst sá hann, at maðr fylgdi vagninum. Hann kenndi þar föður sinn. Ok er hann kom at valnum, ruddist hann um fast ok kastaði þeim dauðu frá sér ok öllum harðara konungs sonum. Sá hann, at allir váru dauðir nema Þorsteinn ok Þórir. Spurði hann þá, hvárt þeir mætti nokkut mæla. Þórir kvað þat satt vera. Þó sá Víkingr, at hann flakti sundr af sárum. Þorsteinn kvaðst ekki sárr vera, en móðr mjök. Víkingr tók Þóri í fang sér. Þótti Þorsteini hann þá enn sterkliga til taka, þótt hann væri gamall. Þorsteinn gekk sjálfr at vagninum ok lagði sik upp í með vápnum sínum. Síðan leiddi Víkingr vagninn. Veðrit tók at þykkna ok blána, ok svá skjótt skipaðist um, at í senn á lítilli stundu þótti Víking sem allr íssinn færi í burt. Var þat mjök jafnsnemma, at þeir kómu at landi ok ísinn var allr af vatninu.

Síðan fór Víkingr heim í svefnskála sinn. Þar var jarðhúss munni hjá rekkju hans, ok lét hann þá þar í niðr. Var þar nóg drykkr ok vist ok klæðnaðr ok allt þat hafa þurfti. Græddi Víkingr Þóri, son sinn, því at hann var góðr læknir. Annarr endir á húsinu var í skógi. Þar varaði Víkingr syni sína við sem mest, at þeir skyldi aldri ór jarðhúsinu koma, því at hann kvað Ógautan þegar vísan verða, at þeir væri á lífi, -- "eigum vér þá skótt ván ófriðar." Þeir hétu góðu um þat. Leið nú þar til, at Þórir var alheill.

Gekk þat nú um öll heruð, at þeir væri nú allir dauðir Víkingssynir. Þó kom á nokkurr pati af Ógautan, at eigi væri víst, hvárt Þórir væri dauðr. Bað Jökull hann þá eftir leita, ef hann mætti víss verða, hvar Þórir væri niðr kominn. Lagðist Ógautan þá djúpt ok var þó aldri vísari heldr um Þóri.

Þat var einn dag, at Þórir mælti við Þorstein: "Daufligt þykki mér hér í jarðhúsinu. Nú er veðr gott, ok vil ek, at vit förum á skóg at skemmta okkr."

"Eigi vil ek þat," segir Þorsteinn, "því at vit brjótum þá boðorð föður okkars."

"Fara skal ek sem áðr," segir Þórir.

Þorsteinn nennti eigi eftir at vera. Fóru þeir þá á skóginn um daginn ok skemmtu sér. En um kveldit, er þeir ætluðu heim at ganga, sáu þeir, hvar ein refkeila lítil fór. Hún viðraði í allar ættir ok snuðraði undir hverja eik.

Þórir mælti: "Hverr ófagnaðr er þetta, frændi, er hér ferr?"

"Eigi veit ek þat gerla," segir Þorsteinn. "Ek þykkist einn tíma hafa sét þat kvikendi, er þessu er líkt, en þat var um nóttina í skálanum, áðr Jökull kom þar ok er þat ætlan mín, at þetta sé bikkjustakkrinn Ógautan."

Tók hann þá spjót ok skaut at refkeilunni, en hún smó niðr í jörðina. Ganga þeir nú heim í jarðhúsit ok létu sem ekki sé í orðit.

Litlu síðar kom Víkingr jarl þar ok mælti: "Nú hafið þit illa gert, er þit hafið brotit boð mitt ok verit úti af jarðhúsinu, ok er Ógautan víss orðinn, at þit eruð hér. Þykki mér ván, at þeir bræðr komi hér skjótt með ófriði."


In the next place it is to be told that Thorstein lay among the slain so tired out that he was wholly unable to help himself, but he was but little wounded And toward the end of the night he heard a wagon coming along the ice Then he saw a man following the wagon, and he saw that the man was his father. And when the man came to the field of battle, he cleared his way, throwing the dead out of his path, but he threw none with more force than the sons of the king. He saw that all were dead except Thorstein and Thorer. He then asked them whether they could speak at all, and Thorer said that he could. Still Viking saw that he was covered with gaping wounds. Thorstein said that he was not wounded, but very tired. Viking took Thorer in his lap, and then it seemed to Thorstein that his father, in spite of his age, showed great strength. Thorstein went to the wagon himself and laid himself in it with his weapons. Then Viking drove on with the wagon. The weather began to grow dark and cloudy, and it changed so fast that, in a very little while, the whole ice seemed to Viking to give way. Just at the time when the had landed, all the ice had melted out of the lake. Then Viking went home to his bed-chamber. Close by his bed was the entrance to an underground dwelling, and down into it he took his sons; in it was enough food and drink, and clothing, and all things that might be needed. Viking healed the wounds of his son Thorer, for he was a good leech. One end of the house stood in a forest; and here Viking very strongly warned his sons never to leave the underground dwelling, for he said it was sure that Ogautan would straightway find out that they were alive; and then, added he, we may soon look for war. As to this they made good promises. Time passed on until Thorer became altogether whole again. It was now talked abroad throughout the country that all the sons of Viking were dead; but nevertheless, it was talked somewhat after Ogautan that it was not sure whether Thorer was dead or not. Then Jokul bade him seek and try to find out with certainty where Thorer had his dwelling-place. Now Ogautan fell into deep thinking, but still he did not become any surer about Thorer. One day it happened that Thorer said to Thorstein: I am getting very tired of staying in this underground dwelling, now the weather is fine, and my will is that we take a walk into the forest to amuse ourselves. Answered Thorstein: I will not, for we would then break the bidding of our father. Nevertheless, I shall go, said Thorer. Thorstein had no mind to stay behind, and so they went to the forest and spent the day there amusing themselves. But in the evening, when they were about to go home again, they saw a little she-fox scenting round about her in all directions, and snuffing under every tree. Said Thorer: What Satanic being goes there, brother? Answered Thorstein: I really do not know; it seems to me that I have once seen something like it, namely, the night before Jokul’s visit to the shed, and I think that we here have the cursed Ogautan. He then took a spear, which he shot at the fox, but she crept down into the ground. After this they went home to their underground dwelling, and did not let on that anything had happened. Shortly afterward, jarl Viking came there and said: Now you have done a bad thing, having broken what I bade you, by leaving the cave, and thus Ogautan has found out that you are here. I therefore expect the brothers soon will come with war upon us.
14. Víkingi kom njósn chapter 14

Litlu síðar kom Ógautan at máli við Jökul ok mælti: "Þat er þó sannast, at ek er þér önnur höndin ok eigi in vinstri."

"Hvat er nú um þat?" segir Jökull.

"Þat," segir Ógautan, "at ek er nú víss orðinn, at þeir bræðr Þórir ok Þorsteinn eru á lífi ok eru hjá Víkingi á laun."

"Þá skal ek," segir Jökull, "safna mönnum ok létta eigi fyrr en vér höfum þeira líf."

Fekk Jökull átta tigi manna. Váru þar í þrír tigir hirðmanna konungs. Váru þessir allvel búnir at klæðum. Váru þeir búnir um kveldit ok ætluðu at fara um morguninn.

Þar váru komnir tveir umferðapiltar. Hét annarr Vöttr, en annarr Þumall. En er þeir váru komnir í sæng um kveldit, mælti Vöttr til Þumals: "Þykki þér ekki ráð, bróðir, at vit stöndum upp ok förum til Víkings ok segjum honum fyrirætlan Jökuls, því at ek veit, at þat er bani Víkings, ef þeir koma honum á óvart, en vit erum skyldir at koma honum at liði."

Þumall segir: "Allheimskr ertu, þykki þér eigi sem varðmenn munu verða varir við okkr, ef vit förum um nætr, ok erum vit þá drepnir ok komum vit þá Víking at engu liði?"

"Jafnan sýnir þú þat," segir Vöttr, "at þú ert dáðlauss, ok þótt þú þorir hvergi at hræra þik, þá skal ek þó fara ok gera Víking varan við, því at mér þætti þá vel keypt, þótt ek fengi bana, ef Víkingr heldi lífi sínu ok synir hans, því at hann hefir mér oft gott gert."

Stóð Vöttr þá upp ok klæddist, ok svá gerði Þumall, því at hann nennti þá eigi eftir at liggja. Fóru þeir síðan leið sína, ok kómu þeir til Víkings um miðnætti ok vöktu hann af svefni. Sagði Vöttr honum, at Jökuls var þangat ván með mikit fjölmenni.

Víkingr mælti: "Vel hefir þú gert, Vöttr minn, svá at launa væri vert."

Kallar Víkingr saman menn af næstum byggðum. Fekk hann þrjá tigi manna. Hann gekk þá ofan í jarðhúsit til sona sinna ok sagði þeim, hvat þá var um at vera.

Þórir mælti: "Þeir skulu fá viðnám, ef þeir koma. Munum vér ganga upp ór jarðhúsinu ok berjast með þér."

"Eigi skal þat," segir Víkingr, "vér skulum sjá fyrst, hversu gengr með oss, ok ef mér þykkir óvænliga horfa, þá mun ek fara upp á, þar er jarðhús ykkart er undir, ok gera mikit um mik. Skuluð þit þá veita mér lið."

Þorsteinn segist svá gera skyldu. Síðan gekk Víkingr á burt. Var þá dagr. Vápnaðist hann þá ok allir hans menn. Hann tók þá kesjufleininn Háreksnaut í hönd sér. Ætluðu allir, at hann mundi ekki vápnhæfr sakir þunga, svá gamall sem hann var. Þótti þá undarliga við bregða, af því at þá er Víkingr var kominn í herklæði sín, þótti hann vera ungr í annat sinn. Hlaðgarðr hár ok víðr var fyrir bæ Víkings, ok var þat it bezta vígi. Þar bjóst hann fyrir ok menn hans. Vápn váru fengin Vetti ok Þumli.

Shortly after this, Ogautan had a talk with Jokul and said: it is indeed true that I am your right and not your left had.
What is there now about that? asked Jokul.
Answered Ogautan: It is that the brothers, Thorer and Thorstein, are still alive at Viking’s, and are hid by him.
Answered Jokul: then I will gather together men, and not give up till we have their lives.
Jokul got together eighty men, among whom there were thirty of the king’s courtiers, all well busked as to clothes.
In the evening they were busked for setting out, being about to leave the next morning. Two young loafers, of whom the one hight Vott and the other Thumal, had just come there, and when they had just gone to bed in the evening, Vott spoke to Thumal: Do you think it is wise brother, that we arise and go to Viking, and tell him of Jokul’s plans, for I know it will be the bane of Viking if they come upon him unawares, and it is our duty to go and help him.
Made answer Thumal: You are very foolish; do you not think that the watchmen will become aware of us if we travel by night, and then we shall be killed without giving any help to Viking.
Said Vott: You always show that you are a coward; but although you dare not move a step, I will nevertheless go and tell Viking what is about being done, for I would gladly lose my life if I could hinder the death of Viking and his sons, for he was often been kind to me.
Then Vott arose and dressed himself, and likewise did also Thumal, for the latter had no mind of staying in the bed alone. Now they went their way, and came to Viking’s at midnight, and aroused him from his sleep. Vott told him that Jokul was to be looked for there with a large number of men.
Said Viking: Well have you done, dear Vott, and your deed surely deserves a reward. Then
Viking called together some men from the neighborhood, so that he had thirty men. Then he went down to his sons in the cave, and told them the state of things.
Said Thorer: They shall be withstood if they come, for we will come up out of the cave and fight together with you.
Answered Viking: You shall not! Let us first see how our fight may turn out, and if it should look hopeless to me, then I will go to that place below which is your cave and make a great noise, and then you must come and help me.
Thorstein said that he would do so, and so Viking went away. After daybreak Viking and all his men took their weapons. He took the kesia called Harek’s loom in hand; but everybody thought he would not be able to wield it on account of its weight, he being so old. A wonderful change then seemed to take place; for as soon as Viking had put on the armor he seemed to be young a second time. A large yard was inclosed by a high wall in front of Viking’s byre: it formed a very good vantage ground, and here he and his men busked themselves for the battle, and weapons were given to Vott and Thumal.
15. Víkingr sendir heiman sonu sína chapter 15

Nú er þar til at taka, at Jökull bjóst snemma um morguninn með allt sitt lið ok léttir eigi fyrr en hann kom til byggða Víkings. Stóð Víkingr úti fram á hlaðgarðinum ok bauð Jökli ok öllum hans mönnum.

Jökull segir: "Annars ertu makligr frá oss en vér þiggjum boð þitt. Er þat erindi várt hingat, at þú selir fram óhappamennina Þorstein ok Þóri.

"Eigi mun ek þat gera," segir Víkingr, "en þó mun ek eigi þræta at hér váru synir mínir báðir, en þó mun ek þá eigi yfirgefa heldr en sjálfan mik. Megið þér nú at sækja, ef þér vilið, en ek mun verja ok mínir menn."

Þeir gerðu þá harða atsókn, en Víkingr varði röskliga ok hans menn. Gekk svá nokkura hríð. Þá réð Jökull til uppgöngu á garðinn. Þeir Víkingr drápu marga menn. Tóku þá at falla allir menn hans. Fór Víkingr þá upp á jarðhúsit ok berr hart á skjöldinn ok gerði mikit hark af sér.

Þórir heyrir þat ok mælti við Þorstein, at þeir skyldi flýta sér -- "ok munum vit þó vera seinir, því at ek hygg, at faðir okkarr sé fallinn."

Þorsteinn kvaðst albúinn, ok er þeir kómu út, stóðu eigi fleiri menn með Víkingi en Vöttr ok Þumall ok þrír menn aðrir. Ekki var Víkingr þó enn sárr, en mjök var hann móðr. Þegar þeir bræðr kómu út, snaraðist Þorsteinn þar at, sem Jökull var fyrir, en Þórir þar at, sem Ógautan var fyrir ok hans menn. Tólf menn Njörfa konungs þeir sóttu at Víkingi ok hans mönnum. Víkingr varði sik, en sætti ekki áverkum við þá. Björn hét sá, er fyrir þeim var. Á lítilli stundu drap Þórir alla fylgdarmenn Ógautans ok hjó til hans, en Ógautan steyptist niðr í jörðina, svá at í iljar hans var at sjá. Þorsteinn sótti at Jökli.

Vöttr mælti: "Þat er vel, at þit reynið með ykkr, hvárr fræknari er, því at Jökull hefir þat aldri mátt heyra, at Þorsteinn hafi verit um nokkura hluti til líka við Jökul."

Var nú orrosta in harðasta með þeim Þorsteini ok Jökli. Svá lauk, at Jökull hrökk út af hlaðgarðinum með mörgum stórum sárum. En er Jökull var burt farinn, gaf Víkingr líf hirðmönnum konungs, þeim er eftir lifðu, ok sendi þá burt með sæmiligum gjöfum ok bað þá bera Njörfa konungi vinsamliga kveðju sína.

Ok er Jökull kom heim, var Ógautan heim kominn. Jökull taldi fast á hann, því hann hefði fyrr flúit en aðrir, en Ógautan segir, at eigi hefði lengr verit vært, -- "má þat ok kalla, at heldr væri þar at eiga við tröll en menn," en Jökull kvað mikit mælt í því.

Nokkuru síðar kómu heim menn Njörfa konungs, er þeir Víkingr höfðu grið gefit, ok sögðu Njörfa konungi kveðju Víkings ok allan hans velgerning, er hann hafði þeim gert.

Konungr svarar: "Ólíkr er Víkingr flestum mönnum sakir síns drengskapar ok alls vaskleika. Er þat ok satt at segja, Jökull frændi, at ek set þvert bann fyrir, at nokkurr ófriðr sé gerr Víkingi heðan af."

Jökull svarar: "Eigi nenni ek því, at bræðrabanar mínir sé í næsta garði mér. Er þat ok skjótt at segja, at Víkingr skal aldri í friði fyrir mér né synir hans. Skal ek aldri gefa upp, fyrr en þeir eru í helju."

"Þá mun ek prófa," segir konungr, "hvárr okkar vinsælli er, því at ek skal fara með alla þá, er mér vilja fylgja, ok veita Víkingi lið. Þykki mér miklu varða um, at þú verðir eigi banamaðr Víkings, því at þá verð ek annathvárt at gera, láta drepa þik, ok mun þat illa fyrir mælast, eða rjúfa eiða mína, er ek hefi svarit, at hefna Víkings, ef ek lifða honum lengr." Lauk hann svá sínu tali.

Víkingr kom at máli við sonu sína ok mælti: "Ekki hefi ek traust til at halda ykkr hér fyrir ríki Jökuls, en hitt er þó meira, at ek vil ekki, at nokkurt misþykki komi millum okkar Njörfa konungs."

Þorsteinn mælti: "Hvert ráð viltu þá sjá fyrir okkr?"

Víkingr mælti: "Hálfdan heitir maðr ok ræðr fyrir Vágum. Þat er öðrum megin fjalls þess, er hér stendr. Hann er fornvinr minn ok fóstbróðir. Þangat sendi ek ykkr til trausts. Þó eru margar torfærur á veginum, skálabúar tveir, hvárr öðrum verri viðreignar. Heitir annarr Sámr, en annarr Fullafli. Gramr heitir hundr Fullafla ok er litlu betri viðreignar en skálabúi. Nú þótt þit komizt undan þeim báðum, þykki mér eigi víst, hvárt þit komizt til Vága, því at gjá ein gengr eftir fjallinu djúp ok breið, at ek veit enga menn hafa yfir komizt nema oss fóstbræðr. Þó þykki mér líkara, at Þorsteinn mundi yfir komast, en eigi treysti ek Þóri."

Litlu síðar bjuggust þeir bræðr til ferðar ok höfðu vápn sín öll. Þá gaf Víkingr Þóri kesjuna. Gull eitt fekk hann Þorsteini syni sínum ok bað hann fá Hálfdani til jarteikna.

"Vertu, Þórir frændi, þolinmóðr," segir Víkingr, "þótt Hálfdan sé styggr við þik eða taki lítt á þér ok þínum erendum."

Skildu þeir feðgar þá. Þótti Víkingi svá mikit, at vatnit fór niðr eftir kjálkunum á honum. Víkingr leit eftir þeim ok mælti: "Ekki mun ek sjá ykkr á ævi minni. Þó muntu verða gamall maðr, Þorsteinn frændi, ok inn mesti frægðarmaðr. Farið nú heilir ok vel."

Sneri karl þá heim, en þeir gengu upp á fjallit ok kómu at einum skála um kveldit. Þar var hnigin hurð á miðjan klofa. Þórir gekk at hurðinni ok hratt upp ok varð þó öllu afli at kosta. Ok er þeir kómu í skálann, sáu þeir, at mikill varningr var þar ok alls konar birgðir. Sæng stór var þar.

Ok er kom at dagsetri, kom skálabúi heim ok heldr ófrýnligr. Hann mælti: "Ok eru hér komnir óhappamennirnir Víkingssynir, Þorsteinn ok Þórir, er drepit hafa sjau sonu Njörfa. Skal hér ok endir verða á þeira óhöppum, því at mér mun lítit fyrir verða at leggja ykkr at velli."

"Hverr er sá," segir Þórir, "at svá lætr gífrliga upp á okkr?"

Skálabúinn sagði: "Ek heiti Sámr, sonr Svarts. Fullafli heitir bróðir minn, er hér ræðr öðrum skálanum."

Þorsteinn mælti: "Þat sé ek, at feigð kallar at okkr bræðrum, ef þú einn drepr okkr báða, því at ek hirði eigi, þó at vit reynum okkr, en Þórir sé hjá."

Í því rennr Sámr undir Þorstein svá snart, at Þorsteinn varð örtaka fyrir, en fell þó eigi. Þórir hleypr þá at ok leggr kesjunni á síðuna ok út um aðra. Datt Sámr þá dauðr niðr. Þar váru þeir um nóttina ok höfðu góðar náðir, því at matr var nógr. Gerðu þeir heitt í skálanum ok höfðu ekki fjár þaðan.

Fóru þeir um morguninn, en at kveldi þess dags fundu þeir annan skála. Var sá sýnu stærri. Hurð var hnigin á klofa. Þórir gekk at hurðinni ok ætlaði upp at hrinda, ok gekk eigi. Hann gekk at með öllu afli, ok gekk eigi at heldr. Þorsteinn fór at hurðinni ok hratt upp, ok gengu inn. Hlaði með vöru var þar á aðra hönd, en skíðahlaði á aðra. Sæng stór stóð innar um þvert, svá at þeim þótti ór hófi ganga vöxtr hennar. Öðrum megin var flet mikit, sem rúm væri, kringlótt at vexti. Þat þóttust þeir skilja, at hundrinn Gramr mundi þar í liggja. Þeir settust þá niðr ok kveyktu eld upp fyrir sér. En er langt var af dagsetri, heyrðu þeir, at fast var niðr stigit. Því næst var hurðinni upp lokit. Þar gekk inn risi furðuliga mikill. Hann hafði bjarndýr mikit bundit á bak sér, en fuglakippu fyrir.

Hann lagði niðr byrðina á gólfit ok mælti: "Fussum! Ok eru hér komnir vandræðamenninir Víkingssynir, er nú hafa verst orð um landit sakir óhappa sinna. Hversu kómuzt þit ór höndum Sáms, bróður míns?"

"Svá kómumst vit," sagði Þorsteinn, "at Sámr lá eftir dauðr."

"Í svefni hafið þit svikit hann," segir Fullafli.

"Eigi var þat," segir Þorsteinn, "því at vit börðumst, ok felldi Þórir, bróðir minn, hann."

"Ekki skal níðast á ykkr í nótt," segir Fullafli. "Skuluð þit bíða morguns ok hafa mat sem ykkr líkar."

Síðan sundraði skálabúi veiði sína ok tók borð ok bar á mat. Tóku þeir þá allir til matar. Eftir þat fóru þeir allir til svefns. Lágu þeir bræðr tveir saman í vararfeldum. Illa lét hundrinn, þá þeir fóru hjá honum. Hvárigir leituðu þar til svika við aðra.

Um morguninn stóðu þeir snemma upp hvárirtveggju. Þá mælti Fullafli: "Nú skulum vit Þorsteinn reyna með okkr, en Þórir við hund minn í öðrum stað."

"Þessu muntu ráða," segir Þorsteinn.

Gengu þeir þá út ok fram á völlinn. Hundrinn hleypr þegar móti Þóri með gapanda gini, ok áttu ina hörðustu sókn, því at rakkinn sló af sér hvert högg með halanum, en ef hann stakk með kesjunni, beit hann af sér hvert lag. Sóttust þeir svá eykt dags, at Þórir kom engu sári á hann. Þat var einn tíma, at Gramr skauzt at Þóri ok greip í kálfann ok þar ór siga. Í því lagði Þórir kesjunni á hundinn ok nísti niðr við vellinum, ok dó Gramr litlu síðar.

Þat er frá Fullafla at segja, at hann hefir mæki stóran í hendi, en Þorsteinn sverð sitt. Þeir áttu bæði harða sókn ok langa, því at Fullafli var stórhöggr, en sakir þess at Angrvaðill beit svá hlífar sem hold, þá fell Fullafli dauðr, en Þorsteinn var ekki sárr.


Now it is to be told that Jokul busked himself and all his army for starting early the next morning, and he did not halt in his march before he came to the dwellings of Viking. Viking was standing outside upon the wall of the yard, and bade Jokul and all his men come in.
 Answered Jokul: Quite otherwise have you deserved than that we should accept your invitation; our errand here is that you give up those mishap-bringing men, Thorstein and Thorer.
I will not do it, answered Viking; nevertheless I will not deny that both of them have been here, but I would sooner give up myself than them. Now you may attack us if you like, but I and my men will ward ourselves.
They now made a hard attack, but Viking and his men warded themselves bravely. Thus some time passed. Then Jokul tried to scale the wall. Viking and his men slew many men; but now all his own men began to fall. Then Viking went to the place over the underground dwelling, struck his shield hard, and said to Thorstein: We ought to make haste, and for all that we may be too late, for I think our father has fallen already. Thorstein said he was quite ready, and when they came out only Vott and Thumal and three other men were standing with Viking. Nevertheless Viking was not wounded yet; he was only very tired. As soon as the brothers same out Thorstein turned to the spot where Jokul was standing, but Thorer went where Ogautan and his men stood. Twelve of king Njorfe’s men attacked Viking and his men. Viking warded himself, and was not wounded by the men who were against him. Their leader hight Bjorn. In a short time Thorer slew all the followers of Ogautan, and stabbed at him with his sword, but Ogautan thrust himself down into the ground, so that only the soles of his feet could be seen. Thorstein attacked Jokul. Said Vott: It is well that you are trying each other’s bravery, for Jokul never could bear to hear that Thorstein was a match for him in anything. Now there was a very hard battle between Thorstein and Jokul and it so turned out that Jokul, scarred with many wounds, bounded back, and fell down outside of the wall. But when Jokul had gone away, Viking gave quarter to the men of the king’s court that still were alive, and sent them away with suitable gifts, begging them to bring his friendly greetings to king Njorfe. And when Jokul came home Ogautan was there already. Jokul blamed him bitterly for having fled before anybody else. To this made answer Ogautan: It was not possible to stay in the fight any longer, and truly it may be said that we there had to do with trolls rather than with men. But Jokul found that his words rather overdid the matter. Somewhat later king Njorfe’s men, to whom quarter had been given by Viking and his men, came home, bringing Viking’s greetings to kin Njorfe, and telling him of all the kind treatment they had gotten from Viking. Said the king: Truly is Viking unlike most other men, on account of his high-mindedness and all his bravery, and now, my son Jokul, I speak the truth when I solemnly forbid any war to be waged against Viking form this time forward. Answered Jokul: I cannot bear to have the slayers of my brothers in the garth next to me, and in a word, I declare that Viking and his sons shall never live in peach so far as I am concerned and I shall never cease persecuting them before they are all sent to Hel (the goddess of death). Answered the king: Then I shall try and see who of us two is the more blest of friends, for with all those who are willing to follow me I will go and help Viking; it seems to me to be of great weight that you do not become the bane of Viking, for it that should follow, I would be forced to one of two things, either to have you killed, and that would be the cause of evil talk, or to break my oaths which I have sworn, namely, that I would avenge Viking if I should outlive him. And thus he ended his speech. Viking had a talk with his sons, and said to them: Owing to Jokul’s power I dare not keep you here; but there is another matter of still more weight, and that is , that I do not want any discord to arise between me and king Njorfe. Said Thorstein: What will you then advise us to do? Answered Viking: There is a man, by name Halfdan, who rules over Vags; Vags is on the other side of yonder mountain. Halfdan is my old friend and foster-brother. To him I will send you, and commend you to his good will; but there are many dangerous hindrances in the way, especially two hut-dwellers (robbers), one of whom is worse to deal with than the other the name of one of them is Sam, and the other is hight Fullafle; the latter has a dog called Gram, with which it is almost as dangerous to deal as with the robber himself. Now I am not sure that you will reach Vags, though you may escape both of these robbers, for there is a chasm along the mountain so deep and broad that I do not know any one who has passed it but my foster-brothers and myself; but I should indeed think it more likely that Thorstein night pass it, whereas I feel less hopeful about Thorer. Shortly afterward the brothers busked themselves for setting out, having all their weapons with them. Then Viking gave the kesia to Thorer; he handed a gold ring to his son Thorstein, begging him to give it to Halfdan as a token of their old friendship.
Now be patient my son Thorer, says Viking; although Halfdan may be peevish toward you, or does not look much to you or your errand. Then the sons took leave of their father, who was so deeply moved that the tears trickled down his cheeks. Viking looked after them as they were going away, and said: I shall never in my life see you again, and nevertheless you , my son Thorstein, will reach an old age, and become a very distinguished man; and now farewell, and all hail to you both. Then the old man returned home, but his sons climbed the mountain until they reached a hut in the evening. The door was half shut. Thorer stepped over to it, and by using all his strength, he pushed it open; and when they had entered the hut, they saw there a great deal of wares and supplies of all kinds. There was a large bed. And at nightfall the hut-dweller, a man of somewhat frowning look, came home. He said: Are you here, you mishap-bringing men,–you sons of Viking, Thorstein and Thorer, who have slain seven of the sons of Njorfe? And now all their ill-luck shall come to an end, for it will be an easy matter for me to strike you to the ground. Who is that, says Thorer, who so boastingly insults us?
Answered the robber: My name is Sam; I am the son of Svart; my brother’s name is Fullafle; he is boss in the other hut.
Said Thorstein: I see that feyness (1) calls on us two brothers, if you alone kill both of us, and therefore I do not hesitate to test our valor, but Thorer shall stand by without taking any part in our combat.
At the same time Sam ran suddenly under Thorstein with so great speed, that the latter lost the hold he had gotten, but still did not fall. Then Thorer ran to Sam, stabbing him with his kesia in one side so that it came out at the other side, and thus Sam fell down dead. So they stopped there during the night and had a good rest, for there was plenty of food. They made the hut warm, but did not carry away any fee with them. In the morning they left the hut, but in the evening of the same day they came to another hut, much larger than the former one. There also the door was half shut. Thorer stepped over to the door, intending to push it open, but he could not. He used all his strength, but still the door would not open. Then Thorstein stepped over to the door, and pushed it until it gave way, and so they went into the hut. On the one side there was a stack of wares and on the other one of logs; a bed was placed in the inner part of the hut, crosswise, and it was so large that they were surprised at its size. At one end of the bed was something like a large, round bedstead, and they judged that it must be the couch of the dog Gram. They then seated themselves and built a fire before them, and long after nightfall they heard heavy footsteps outside; presently the door was opened, and a giant of stupendous stature entered, carrying bound on his back a large bear, and a string of fowl on his breast. He laid his burden down on the floor, saying: Fie! Here I have the miscreants, the sons of Viking, who, on account of their ill-fated deeds, are held in the worst repute throughout the whole land. But how did you escape the hands of my brother Sam? We escaped in such a manner, said Thorstein, that he lay dead on the spot. You have taken advantage of him in his sleep, said Fullafle. By no means, said Thorstein, for we fought with him, and my brother Thorer slew him. I shall not act as a nithing toward you tonight, says Fullafle; you shall stay till tomorrow morning, and have what good you want.
Then he hut-dweller cut his game to pieces, took a table and put victuals on it, whereupon they all took to eating, and after their supper they went to bed.
The two brothers slept together in some marketable cloaks. The dog growled as they passed by him. Neither party tried to deceive the other. In the morning both parties arose early. Said Fullafle: Now, Thorstein, let us try each other’s strength, but let Thorer fight with my dog in another place.
Answered Thorstein: That shall be according to your wish.
Now they went out of the hut and over on the lawn which fronted it, and suddenly the dog, and his jaws wide open leaped upon Thorer. Both Thorer and the dog fought fiercely, for the dog warded off every blow with his tail, and when Thorer tried to pierce him with his kesia, he escaped by biting the weapon at every stab. Thus they fought for three hours and Thorer had not yet succeeded in wounding him. Once Gram suddenly darted upon Thorer and bit a slice out of his calf. At the same time Thorer stabbed the dog with the kesia, pinning him down to the ground, and soon after Gram expired.
But of Fullafle it is to be told that he had a large meker (Anglo-Saxon mece, a kind of sword) in his hand, and Thorstein had his sword also. They had a long and severe struggle; for Fullafle was wont to deal heavy blows. But as Angervadil bit armor no less than flesh, he fell dead, and Thorstein was wholly without a wound.
16. Þeir bræðr kómu til Hálfdanar chapter 16

Nú búast þeir bræðr í burt ok fóru veg sinn, allt þar til þeir kómu at gjá mikilli. Sýndist Þorsteini hún vera ill yfirferðar. Þó réð hann til hlaups ok hljóp yfir gjána, Þórir þegar eftir. Var þat allt jafnsnemma, at Þorsteinn snerist á gjábakkanum ok Þórir var kominn framan í gjábakkann ok var búinn at falla bak aftr. Í því gat Þorsteinn gripit til hans ok kippti honum upp á gjábakkann.

Þorsteinn mælti: "Jafnan sýnir þú þat, frændi, at þú ert óbilgjarn. Var enn svá því at þat máttir þú vita, at þat var bráðr bani, ef þú fellt ofan í gjána."

"Nú var eigi þat," segir Þórir, "ok naut ek enn þín sem oftar."

Gengu þeir nú veg sinn, allt þar til er þeir kómu at móðu einni. Hún var bæði djúp ok ströng. Þorsteinn bað þá fyrir leitast, hvar vaðit mundi vera. Þórir ferr þegar út á ána, ok er hann kom skammt frá landi, kenndi hann ekki niðr. Varð hann þá at kosta sunds. Þorsteinn nennti eigi á landi at standa, lagðist út á ána eftir honum. Lögðust þeir þá at landi ok undu klæði sín. En meðan þeir váru at því, varð grimmd svá mikil, at klæði þeira freri ok urðu sem steinn. Máttu þeir ekki í þau komast. Gerði þá hríð mikla. Ætla menn, at því veðri muni Ógautan ollat hafa.

Þorsteinn spyrr Þóri, hvat til ráða væri. "Þykki mér ráð," segir Þórir, "at vit stingum klæðum okkrum niðr í móðuna því at í kuldavatni raknar skjótt."

Svá gerðu þeir, ok með þessu bragði kómust þeir í klæðin, gengu síðan, þar til þeir komu heim á bæinn í Vágum. Læst var hurð. Kómust þeir ekki inn. Þá var kveldtími. Þeir börðu lengi á dyrum, ok var ekki til gengit. Áss lá í túninu tvítugr. Hann tóku þeir ok báru upp á húsin ok riðu honum, svá at braka tók í hverju tré. Allt fólk var hrætt, er í bænum var, svá at í sína hyrning hljóp hverr. Hálfdan gekk þá til dyra ok gekk fram á hlaðit. Þeir bræðr gengu þá at honum ok heilsuðu upp á hann. Hálfdan svaraði þeim fáliga, en þó spyrr hann þá at nafni. Þeir nefndu sik ok sögðust vera synir Víkings jarls, segja hann hafi heilsat honum.

Hálfdan segir: "Ekki kann ek at kalla fóstbræðralagit með okkr. Þykki mér sem margr haldi þat til meðallags, en ekki betr. Þykki mér sem þit látið þat ekki langt í ættir ganga, er þit hafið drepit flestalla sonu Njörfa konungs. Þó megið þit inn ganga ok vera hér í nótt, ef þit vilið."

Gekk hann þá inn undan snúðugt, en þeir eftir. Þeir kómu í stofuna. Var þar fátt manna. Ekki váru klæði af þeim dregin. Sátu þeir svá um kveldit, þar til farit var at hátta. Þá var settr trygill fyrir þá á borðit ok grautr í ok sinn spánn í hvárn enda. Þórir tók til ok hóf.

Þorsteinn mælti: "Misjafnt er þér varit um stórlæti þitt."

Hann tók upp trygilinn ok kastar utar á gólfit, svá at hann brotnaði í sundr. Síðan fóru menn til hátta. Höfðu þeir bræðr enga sæng. Var þeim ekki svefnsamt um nóttina.

Þeir stóðu upp snemma um morgin ok bjuggust til ferðar.

Ok er þeir kómu út fyrir dyrr, kom karl þar ok mælti: "Hvat sögðu þit í gær, eða hvers synir sögðust þit vera?"

Þórir segir: "Hvat muntu nú gerr vita en þá vit sögðum þér, at vit várum synir Víkings jarls?"

Þorsteinn mælti: "Hér er fingrgull, er hann bað mik fá þér."

Þórir mælti: "Ek ætla, at sá hafi verr, at honum sýnir þar af."

Þorsteinn mælti: "Vertu eigi svá styggr, bróðir. Hér er gullit til jarteikna, at þú mundir taka við okkr, svá at vit hefðim hér traust hjá þér."

Hálfdan tók við gullinu ok varð glaðr við ok mælti: "Hví munda ek eigi taka við ykkr ok allt gott gera, þat er ek má? Er þat skylt sakir Víkings, vinar míns. Lízt mér giftuliga á ykkr."

Þórir mælti: "Satt er þat, sem mælt er, at gott er at hafa tvá hváftana ok sitt með hvárum mæla. Léztu öðruvís við okkr í gærkveld, er vit kómum her. Muntu vera in mesta skræfa, ok hvervetna ertu slægr."

Þorsteinn mælti: "Höfum við þol, Hálfdan, við bróður minn, þó at hann illyrði þik, því at hann er ófyrirleitinn í orðum ok gerðum."

"Frétt hefi ek þat," segir Hálfdan, "at þú ert manna gerviligastr, en Þórir bráðr ok ófyrirleitinn, en þó virðist mér sem þú munir vera í öllu stórlyndari."

Fóru þeir inn, ok váru dregin af þeim klæði ok veittr inn bezti beini. Sátu þeir þar um vetrinn í góðu yfirlæti.

En er várdagar kómu, þá mælti Þorsteinn við Hálfdan: "Nú munu vit burtu leita heðan af."

"Hvat viltu helzt ráða?" segir Hálfdan.

"Ek vilda, at þú fengir mér skip," segir Þorsteinn, "ok menn á. Mun ek halda í hernað ok afla mér fjárhlutar."

Hálfdan sagði svá skyldu vera. Bjuggust þeir síðan suðr með landi. Þar kómu í móti honum tvau skip, er faðir hans hafði sent honum, hlaðin af mönnum ok góðum vápnum. Þorsteinn sendi aftr þat skip, er Hálfdan hafði fengit honum, ok mennina með, en sínu skipi stýrði hvárr þeira bræðra. Þeir herjuðu víða um sumarit, ok varð þeim gott til fjár ok metnaðar.

Um haustit kómu þeir at einni ey. Þar réð fyrir sá bóndi, er Grímr hét. Hann bauð þeim at sitja þar um vetrinn, ok þat þágu þeir. Grímr var kvángaðr ok átti sér eina dóttur, er Þóra hét. Hún var mikil vexti ok væn at yfirliti. Þórir lagði hug á hana ok sagði Þorsteini, bróður sínum, at hann vildi fá hana sér til eiginkonu. Þorsteinn ræddi þetta mál við Grím bónda. Grímr tók því fjarri.

Þorsteinn mælti: "Þá býð ek þér á hólm, ok ráði sá okkar dóttur þinni, sem annan vinnr á hólmi."

Grímr kvaðst þess albúinn. Annan dag eftir tóku þeir feld ok köstuðu undir fætr sér ok börðust alldrengiliga ok skildu at kveldi, svá at hvárrgi var sárr. Börðust þeir dag annan ok þriðja, ok fór á sama veg.

Þat var einn dag, at Þórir spyrr bóndadóttur, hvat valda mundi, at Grímr yrði ekki sigraðr. Hún segir, at steinn sá stæði framan í hjálminum, at því ylli, at hann má eigi sigrast, á meðan steininum verðr eigi af honum nát. Þetta segir Þórir Þorsteini. Ok inn fjórða dag, er þeir börðust, kastar Þorsteinn sverðinu, en greip hjálminn tveim höndum svá fast, at slitnuðu hjálmböndin. Litlu síðar réð hann á Grím, ok kenndi þá aflsmunar. Hafði Þorsteinn hann þá undir ok gaf honum líf.

Þá spyrr Grímr, hverr hefði sett ráð til at taka hjálminn. Þorsteinn segir, at Þóra hefði sagt Þóri. "Giftast vill hún þá," segir Grímr. "Skal ok svá."

Var þat þá ráðit, at Þórir fekk Þóru. Ok at várdögum lagðist Þorsteinn í hernað, en Þórir sat eftir. Tókust þar upp ástir góðar með þeim Þóru. Þau áttu einn son barna, er Haraldr hét. Hann tók kesjufleininn síðan eftir föður sinn, ok af honum tók hann nafn ok var kallaðr Haraldr kesja.

Now the brothers busked themselves for leaving, and continued their walk until they reached a great chasm, which it seemed to Thorstein it would be very dangerous to pass. Nevertheless, he made himself ready to leap over the abyss, and did it. He was immediately followed by Thorer, but when Thorstein had reached the other side of the chasm and looked round, Thorer had just reached the same and was falling down into the chasm. Thorstein succeeded, however, in seizing him and pulling him up again. Said Thorstein then: Brother, you always show that you are a dauntless fellow; so you did now, too, for you might know that it would be certain death to you if you should fall into the chasm. It did not happen this time, answered Thorer, for you saved me, as you have so often done before. Then they proceeded on their journey until they came to a large river, which was both deep and rapid. Thorstein said they must look for the ford, but without delay Thorer waded into the river, and not far from the bank the water was so deep that the bottom could not be reached, and therefore he had to sustain himself by swimming. Thorstein not being minded to be standing on the bank, threw himself into the river and swam after him. Thus they reached the other bank, where they wrung their wet clothes. But while they were doing this the weather grew so bitterly cold that their clothes froze hard as a stone, and so they could not put them on. At the same time a fearful snow storm arose, and it was thought that Ogautan was the cause of it. Thorstein asked Thorer what was the best thing for them to do. Answered Thorer: I think we can do nothing better than to dip our clothes in the river, for in cold water things soon thaw out. So they did, and thereby were able to put on their clothes again. Then they went on until they came tot he byre of Vags. It being night when they came there, the door of the house was locked, so they could not enter. They kept knocking at the door a long time, but nobody came to it. In the yard lay a beam twenty fathoms long. This they brought upon the roofs of the houses, and they rode upon it in such a manner that every timber began to creak, and all the inmates of the house became so frightened that they ran each into his corner. Then Halfdan went to the door and out to the front yard, and the brothers now went over to him and greeted him. Halfdan gave them a cold and reserved answer, asking them, however, for their names. They gave him their names, adding that they were the sons of jarl Viking, and that they brought greetings from the latter to him. Said Halfdan: I cannot talk about foster-brothership between us; to me it seems that many a man keeps his word of foster-brothership but middlingly well, and no more; and as for you , who have slain the most of king Njorfe’s sons, it also seems to me that you have not regarded the sanctity of foster-brothership in respect to many of Njorfe’s descendants. Still you may enter my house, and lodge here to-night, if you like. Then Halfdan went in at a swinging pace, followed by the brothers. They entered the stofa (sitting-room), where there but a few persons. Nobody took the clothes off the brothers, and thus they sat during the evening, till people began to go to bed; then a dish containing porridge, and a spoon in each end of it was placed on the table before them. Thorer began to eat the porridge. Said Thorstein then: You are very inconsistent in regard to your pride; and, so saying, he took the dish and threw it on the floor in the further part of the room, so that it broke to pieces. Here-upon the people went to bed. The brothers had no bed, and got but very little sleep during the night. Early in the morning they got up and busked themselves for leaving. But when they had got outside the door the old man came to them and asked them: What did you say last night, or whose sons did you say you were? Made answer Thorer: What more do you know now that when we told you we were the sons of jarl Viking: Said Thorstein: Here is a golden finger-ring, which he begged me to give to you. Said Thorer: I think he will be the worse off how shows him anything of it. Made answer Thorstein: Be not so peevish, brother! Here is the gold ring, as a token that you should receive us in such a manner that we might be comforted and protected at your house. Halfdan took the ring, became glad, and said: Why should I not receive you, and do all the good in my power for you? To do so is my duty, on account of my relations to my friend Viking. You seem to be men blest with good luck. Said Thorer: The adage is indeed a true one, that it is good to have two mouths for the two kinds of speech. Last night, soon after we had come to you, you treated us quite otherwise. I therefore am inclined to think you a coward, and you everywhere show your slyness. Said Thorstein: Let us be patient, Halfdan, with my brother, although he is cross in his words to you, for he is a reckless man in his words and doing. Answered Halfdan: I have heard that you are the most doughty of men, and that Thorer is hot-tempered and reckless; still, I think that you are in every respect a man of more spirit. Hereupon they went into the house, their clothes were taken off them, and every attention was shown them. They stayed there during the winter, and enjoyed the most hearty treatment. But in the beginning of spring Thorstein said to Halfdan: We shall now leave this place. Answered Halfdan: What is your best advice? Made answer Thorstein: I wish you would give me a ship, manned with a crew, for I intend to set out and wage war and gain booty. To this Halfdan gave his consent. After busking themselves properly, they sailed to the south, along the coast of the country, until they met with two vessels, which had been sent out by their father, and were filled with men and good weapons. Now Thorstein sent back the ship which had been given to him by Halfdan, and sent the crew with it; but the brothers became skippers, one on each of the two ships. They waged wars in many places during the summer, and gained much fee and fame. In the fall they landed on an island which was ruled by the bonde, whose name was Grim. He bade them stay with him through the winter, and they accepted his offer. Grim was married and had an only daughter, by name Thora, a tall and fine-looking girl. Thorer fell in love with her, and told his brother Thorstein that he wanted to marry her. Thorstein talked about the matter to Grim, they bonde, but the latter flatly refused to give his consent. Answered Thorstein: Then I challenge you to fight with me in a holm-gang, and he who wins shall be master of your daughter. Grim said he was ready for the holm-gang. The next day they took a blanket, which they threw under their feet, and then they fought the whole day very bravely, but in the evening they parted, neither of them having received any wound. The second and the third days they fought, but the results were the same as the first day. One day Thorer asked the daughter of the bonde how it came to pass that Grim could not be vanquished. She said there was in the fore part of his helmet a stone, which made him quite invincible as long as it was not taken away from him. This Thorer told to Thorstein; and on the fourth day of their fight Thorstein threw his sword, grasping the helmet of his antagonist with both his hands with so great force that the cords of the helmet were severed. Shortly after he attacked Grim, and now Thorstein’s greater strength was shown. He brought Grim down, but gave him quarter.
Then Grim asked who had advised him to take the helmet. Thorstein said that Thora had told it to Thorer. Then she wants to be married, answered Grim, and it shall so be. Thus it was resolved that Thorer should marry Thora.
In the beginning of spring Thorstein set out to carry on wars, leaving Thorer at home. The newly married couple took to loving each other very much, and they got a son, whom they named Harald. This was their only child. He afterward took his father’s kesia, after which he was nick-named and was called Harald Kesia.
17. Ógautan lagði á Ingibjörgu chapter 17

Skati hefir konungr heitit. Hann var Eiríksson, Myndilssonar, Meitálfssonar. Skati konungr réð fyrir í Sogni. Hann átti sér drottningu ok tvau börn. Beli hét sonr hans, inn mesti ágætismaðr. Ingibjörg hét dóttur hans. Hún var þá eigi í ríkinu, því at hún hafði fyrir álögum orðit. Skati hafði verit berserkr ok inn mesti víkingr ok ruddi sér til ríkis í Sogni. Þorgrímr hét landvarnarmaðr hans. Hann var inn mesti kappi ok mikill garpr, en í meðallagi trúr. Mikil vinátta var með þeim Þorgrími ok Bela konungssyni. Beli var inn frægasti maðr um öll lönd.

Þat hafði borit til tíðenda, at þá Skati konungr var aldraðr mjök ok börn hans bæði ung, kómu víkingar tveir við land. Hét annarr Gautan, en annarr Ógautan. Þeir kómu mjök á óvart ok buðu konungi til bardaga, eða skyldi hann gerast jarl þeira ok gefa upp land sitt. Skati konungr hafði ekki liðsafla við þeim en þó vildi hann heldr deyja með sæmd en lifa með skömm ok falla í konungdómi sínum heldr en þjóna fjandmönnum sínum. Fór hann til bardaga ok hafði ekki fleira lið en hirð sína. Þorgrímr komst í burt með Bela konungsson, en Ingibjörg sat eftir í skemmu sinni. Skati konungr fell fyrir Ógautan með góðan orðstír, en menn hans, þeir sem eftir lifðu flýðu á skóga.

Settist Ógautan nú at ríki ok lét gefa sér konungs nafn. Hann bað lngibjörgu at ganga með sér, en hún neitaði þverliga ok sagðist fyrr skyldu drepa sik sjálf en eiga föðurbana sinn ok slíkt illmenni sem Ógautan er, -- "þar sem þú ert líkari fjánda en manni."

Ógautan varð reiðr við ok mælti: "Ek skal launa þér illyrði þín, ok legg ek þat á þik, at þú sért þvílík at vexti ok yfirlitum sem Skellinefja, systir mín, ok allri náttúru þeiri, sem þú mátt bera, byggir helli þann, sem við Djúpamóðu er, ok komist aldri ór þessum álögum, fyrr en nokkurr velborinn maðr verðr til þess at eiga þik ok játi því ok þó aldri fyrr en ek er dauðr, en systir mín taki við yfirlitum þínum."

"Þat læt ek um mælt," segir Ingibjörg, "at þú njótir þessa ríkis bæði illa ok skamma stund."

Varð þetta at áhrínsorðum, er Ógautan mælti, at Ingibjörg hvarf í burt. Litlu síðar kom þar aftr Beli konungsson ok Þorgrímr með marga menn um náttartíma, ok báru eld at lofti því, er þeir bræðr sváfu í, ok brenndu inni alla þá menn, utan þeir bræðr fóru ina neðri leið ok kómust svá í burt, léttu eigi fyrr en þeir kómu fram í hirð Njörfa konungs, en Beli tók aftr við ríki sínu ok gerðist þar konungr yfir. Þorgrímr var enn landvarnarmaðr hans.

A king was named Skate, a son of Erik, who again was a son of Myndil Meitalfsson. Skate was king in Sogn, and with his queen had had two children, a son named Bele, who was a very excellent man, and a daughter who hight Ingeborg. At this time she was not in the kingdom, having been spell bound (and thus removed from the country). Skate had been a berserk and a very great viking, and he had forced his way onto the throne of Sogn. There was a man who hight Thorgrim, and who had to defend the realm against the invasion of foes. He was a great champion and a warlike man, but not over faithful. Between Thorgrim and the king’s son, Bele, there was a warm friendship. Bele had great celebrity throughout all lands.
It had happened, after king Skate had grown very old, both his children still being young, that two vikings, one named Gautan and the other Ogautan, had landed in his country. They had taken he king by surprise, and offered him two conditions, either to fight a battle with them, or give up his land and become a jarl under them. King Skate, though he had no troops to meet them with would rather die with honor than lie with shame; he would rather fall in his kingdom than serve his foes. He therefore went to battle, having no other troops than his courtiers. Thorgrim escaped with the king’s son, Bele, but Ingeborg remained at home in her bower. In the combat with Ogautan, king Skate fell with honor, but those of his men who escaped death in the battle fled to the woods. Now Ogautan took the kingdom into his charge, and had the title of king given to himself. He asked Ingeborg to become his wife, but she flatly refused, saying she would rather kill herself than marry the bane of her father, and such a villain, too, as Ogautan; for you , she said, are more like the devil himself than like a man. At this Ogautan grew angry, and said: I shall reward you for you foul language, and I hereby enchant you, so that you shall get the same stature and look as my sister Skellinefja, and the same nature also as she, as far as you may be capable of assuming it; and spell-bound, you shall inhabit that cave which is on the deep river, and you shall never escape out of his enchanted state until some man of noble birth is willing to have you, and pledges himself to marry you; still you can never escape until I am dead. But my sister shall wear your looks. Said Ingeborg: I cause you to be so enchanted that you shall keep this kingdom only for a short time, and never have any good of your reign. The spells pronounced by Ogautan proved true, and Ingeborg disappeared. Soon afterward, the king’s son, Bele, came thither again, together with Thorgrim and many other men. It was night, and they set fire to the upper story of the house in which the two brothers slept, and burnt it up, together with the people who lived in it, except the brothers who escaped through an underground passage and fled, without stopping until they came to the court of king Njorfe. Bele took possession of his country again, and Thorgrim remained in his former position as warder of the king’s land.
18. Frá bónorði Jökuls ok Bela chapter 18

Vilhjálmr hefir konungr heitit, er réð fyrir Vallandi, vitr konungr ok vinsæll. Hann átti dóttur þá, er Ólöf hét, kvenna kurteisust.

Nú er þar til at taka, sem Jökull Njörfason er, at eftir þat er þeir Víkingssynir váru burt farnir, gerði hann Þorstein ok Þóri útlæga fyrir endilangan konungdóm sinn. Ekki samþykkti Njörfi konungr þat, því at þeir Víkingr heldu vináttu sinni, meðan þeir lifðu.

Eitt sinn kom Ógautan at máli við Jökul ok spyrr, hvárt hann vill ekki kvángast. Jökull frétti eftir, hvar hann sæi þar jafnaðarkvánfang.

Ógautan mælti: "Vilhjálmr í Vallandi á dóttur, er Ólöf heitir. Þar þætti mér vaxa þinn heiðr, ef þú fengir þat ráð."

"Hví skulum vit eigi þar til ráða?" segir Jökull.

Bjuggust þeir þá til ferðar með sex tigi manna ok fóru síðan til Vallands ok fundu Vilhjálm konung. Tók hann vel við Jökli, því at Njörfi, faðir hans, var nafnkunnigr um öll lönd. Jökull hefr upp bónorð sitt til Ólafar sér til handa. Ógautan fylgdi fast bónorðinu, en konungr skaut til dóttur sinnar. Ok er þeir höfðu þetta talat, gengu inn í höllina þrír tigir manna heldr röskligir. Sá var mestr ok fríðastr, er fyrir þeim var. Hann gekk fyrir konung ok kvaddi hann.

En þegar Ógautan sér þessa menn, þá hljóðnar um hann ok drap niðr hökuskegginu ok mælti við Jökul ok aðra menn sína, at þeir skyldu ekki nefna sik, meðan þeir væri þar í landi.

Konungr spyrr ina miklu menn at heiti, en formaðr þeira kvaðst Beli heita ok vera sonr Skata konungs, er réð fyrir í Sogni, --"er þat erendi mitt hingat, at ek vil biðja dóttur þinnar."

Konungr segir: "Hér er kominn áðr Jökull Njörfason ok biðr hennar. Mun ek nú þann veg á gera, at hún kjósi, hvárn hún vill eiga."

Skipaði konungr Bela á aðra hönd sér. Var þar veizla in bezta. At þrem nóttum liðnum gengu þeir út til skemmu ok fréttu konungsdóttur eftir með hvárum hún vildi ganga, Jökli eða Bela. Skjótt var þat auðfundit á henni, at hún vildi heldr eiga Bela, en í því varpaði Ógautan kefli í kné henni, en svá brá henni við þat, at hún neitaði Bela, en gekk at eiga Jökul. Sneri Beli þá til skipa. Vináttumál hafði farit áðr milli þeira Jökuls ok Bela, svá at þat segja sumir, at Beli mun hafa tekit fé til höfuðs þeim bræðrum, Þorsteini ok Þóri. Gaf Beli Jökli enga skuld á, þótt konungsdóttir vildi hann ekki eiga, með því at undir hennar órskurð kom. Síðan fór Beli heim til ríkis síns. Jökull bjóst heim, þegar úti var brullaup hans, ok Ógautan með honum.

A king, named Vilhjalm (William), ruled over Valland. He was a wise man, and was blest with many friends. He had a daughter, who hight Olof, and was a woman of great culture. Now it is to be told that Jokul, Njorfe’s son, after the departure of the sons of Viking, made Thorstein and Thorer outlaws in every place within the boundaries of his kingdom. King Njorfe did not consent to it, for he and Viking kept their friendship during their whole life. Once Ogautan had a talk with Jokul, and asked him if he would not like to get married. Jokul asked him where he saw a match for him. Answered Ogautan: Vilhjalm of Valland has a daughter named Olof, and I think a marriage with her would add to your honor. Said Jokul: why not then make up our minds as to this subject? So they busked themselves for the voyage, and together with sixty men they sailed for Valland. Here they paid a visit to king Vilhjalm, who received Jokul very heartily, for his father, Njorfe, was well known throughout all lands. Now Jokul asked for Olof in marriage, and Ogautan pleaded with the king in his behalf, but the latter appealed to his daughter. And straightway after this conversation thirty very brave-looking men entered the hall. The one who went before them was the tallest and fairest, and he went up to the king and greeted him. As soon as Ogautan saw these men his voice fell, his beard sunk, and he begged Jokul and his other men not to mention his name so long as they stayed in that land. The king asked the stately men what they hight, and the chief called himself Bele, and said he was the son of Skate, the king, who was ruler of Sogn. My errand hither, he added, is to woo your daughter. Made answer the king: Jokul, the son of Njorfe, came here before you on the same errand; now I will settle the mater in this way, that she choose herself which one of the two wooers she will have. Then the king placed Bele on one side of himself, and there was a great banquet. After three nights they took a walk to the bower of the princess, asking her which one of the two wooers, Jokul or Bele, she would marry, and it soon appeared that she would rather marry Bele; but at that moment Ogautan threw a round piece of wood into her lap, whereby her nature was suddenly changed to such an extent that she refused and married Jokul. Then Bele returned to his ships. Jokul and Bele had formerly been on good terms, so that some people say that Bele had got a reward for killing Thorstein and Thorer. Bele did not blame Jokul though the daughter of the king declined to marry him (Bele), for the matter depended upon her decision. Thereupon Bele went home to his kingdom and after the wedding Jokul also repaired homeward accompanied by Ogautan.
19. Frá Skellinefju ok Þorsteini chapter 19

Nú er þar til at taka, er Þorsteinn heldr heim ór hernaði ok ætlar til Gríms bónda, því at Þórir, bróðir hans, sat þar í eynni. Jökull hafði nú fregn af ferðum hans. Hann mælti þá til Ógautans ok bað hann reyna listir sínar ok gera veðr at Þorsteini, svá at hann drukknaði ok allir hans menn. Ógautan kveðst til þess hætta, hversu sem tækist. Gerði hann þá svá mikit kyngiveðr at Þorsteini, at skip hans týndust í sjávargangi ok hverr maðr, er á var. Þorsteinn dugði lengi vel, ok kom þar um síðir, at hann þreyttist á sundi. Var hann þá kominn í lágarða. Dró hann þá niðr.

Í því sá hann, hvar kerling ein stór óð út at honum ok var í skorpnum skinnstakki. Hann var síðr í fyrir en stuttr á bak Hún var stórskorin mjök ok heldr grepplig í ásjónu ok gekk at honum ok greip hann ór sjónum ok mælti: "Viltu þiggja líf af mér, Þorsteinn?"

Hann segir: "Hví munda ek eigi vilja, eða hvat heitir þú?"

Hún segir: "Óvant er nafn mitt, ek heiti Skellinefja, en muntu nokkut verða til at vinna lífgjafarinnar."

"Hvat er þat?" segir hann.

"At veita mér bæn þá, er ek vil biðja þik," segir hún.

"Þú munt þeirar einnar biðja," segir Þorsteinn, "at mér mun þat vel vegna, eða nær skal hún til koma?"

"Ekki at sinni," segir hún.

Síðan bar hún hann til lands, ok var hann þá kominn í ey þá, er Grímr átti fyrir at ráða. Sló hún þá á við hann glímu nokkurri, þar til honum gerði heitt. Skildi hún þá við hann, ok bað hvárt vel fyrir öðru. Ferr hún þá leiðar sinnar, því at hún kveðst víðara verða við at koma, en Þorsteinn fór heim til bæjar. Var þar fagnafundr með þeim bræðrum. Sat Þorsteinn þar um vetrinn í góðu yfirlæti.

Nú er þar til at taka, er þeir sigla heim Jökull ok Ógautan, at þat var einn dag í góðu veðri, at miklu myrkri sló yfir skipit með sva mikilli grimmd ok frosti, at engi maðr á skipinu þorði á móti at sjá. Klæddu allir menn andlit sitt, þeir sem á skipunum váru. En er af leið myrkrinu, sáu þeir, hvar Ógautan var hengdr upp við húnboru. Var hann þá dauðr. Þótti Jökli þat inn mesti skaði ok helt heim í ríki sitt ok sezt um kyrrt.

Þeir Þorsteinn ok Þórir bjuggust snemma um várit ok ætla at sækja heim Víking, föður sinn. Ok er þeir koma at Djúpamóðu, urðu þeir eigi fyrr varir við en Jökull kom þar at þeim með þrjá tigi manna. Slær þegar í bardaga með þeim. Var Jökull inn ákafasti ok svá Grímr bróðir hans. Þórir ok Þorsteinn vörðust vel. Gekk svá lengi, at þeir kómu engu sári á þá bræðr. Var þá hvárttveggja, at Þorsteinn var stórhöggr, enda beit Angrvaðill járn sem klæði. Þórir varðist ágæta vel ok hafði eigi kesjuna, því at hún hafði heima eftir legit. Þeir Grímr mættust ok börðust alldrengiliga, en þó lauk með því at Grímr hné dauðr til jarðar. Þá hafði Þorsteinn drepit nítján menn, enda var hann þá bæði móðr ok sárr ok svá Þórir. Snerust þeir bræðr þá bökum at ok vörðust þá enn vel. Jökull sótti at við ellefu menn ok gerði svá harða hríð, at Þórir fell. Þá varðist Þorsteinn nú karlmannliga ok allt þar til þeir váru eigi fleiri en Jökull ok þrír aðrir. Jökull lagði þá til Þorsteins ok kom í lærit heldr ofarliga, en með því at Jökull var sterkr ok gekk fast á lagit, en Þorsteinn móðr mjök ok stóð framarliga á árbakkanum, þá hrapaði hann ofan fyrir hamrana, en Jökull gat sem næfrligast stöðvat sik. Leitaði Jökull síðan heim ok þóttist hafa drepit Þorstein ok Þóri. Settist hann nú um kyrrt.

Nú er þar til at taka, er Þorsteinn fell ofan fyrir hamrana. Varð þar undir tó, er Þorsteinn kom niðr, en sakir mæði ok sára mátti hann ekki hræra sik, en þó hafði hann vit sitt, er hann kom niðr. Angrvaðill hraut ór hendi honum ok ofan í móðuna. Lá Þorsteinn þá milli heims ok heljar ok vætti sér þá ekki nema dauða. Ok er hann hafði eigi lengi legit, sér hann, hvar gengr Skellinefja ok var í skinnstakki sínum ok engu fegri en fyrr.

Hún kemr þar at, sem Þorsteinn liggr, ok mælti: "Eigi þykki mér ór steini hefja fyrir þér um slysferðir þínar, Þorsteinn. Sýnist mér nú liðit at þér, eða viltu nú veita bæn þá, er ek keypta at þér fyrri?"

Þorsteinn segir: "Ek sé mik nú fátt mega gera, þat veizlumunr sé í."

"Sú er bæn mín," segir hún at þú játir at eiga mik. Mun ek þá leita við at græða þik."

Þorsteinn segir: "Eigi veit ek, hvárt ek skal þat til vinna, því at mér sýnist þú ferlig at sjá."

"Þar skaltu þó eiga um at kjósa," segir hún, "hvárt viltu heldr eiga mik eða láta lífit ok rjúfa þó eið þinn við mik, er þú hézt at veita mér bæn mína, þá er ek gaf þér líf við Grímsey."

Þorsteinn segir: "Mikit er satt í því, ok mun þat bezt at halda orð sín, ok vil ek því játa at eiga þik. Muntu verða mér inn mesti bjargvættr, en þó vilda ek þat til kjósa við þik, at þú náir sverði mínu, ef mér verðr lífs auðit, svá at ek mega bera þat."

Hún segir svá vera skyldu ok tók hann upp í skinnstakk sinn ok hljóp upp hamrana, sem hún væri laus, þar til er hellir stór varð fyrir þeim. Þar fór hún inn í ok bindr sár Þorsteins ok leggr hann í hæga sæng, ok innan sjau nátta var hann gróinn at mestu.

Þat var einn dag, at Skellinefja var í burt ór hellinum, ok um kveldit kom hún aftr með sverðit, ok var þá vátt mjök, ok fekk Þorsteini ok mælti: "Nú hefi ek gefit þér tvá tíma líf ok fengit þér aftr sverð þitt, er þú hefir mestar mætur á, ok þat it fjórða, er okkr er mest veitt í, at ek hengda Ógautan. En þó hefir þú þetta fullu launat mér, því at þú hefir komit mér ór álögum þeim, er Ógautan lagði á mik. Heiti ek Ingibjörg, dóttir Skata konungs, en systir Bela, en mér varð þat til undanlausnar um ánauð mína, ef nokkurr velborinn maðr játar at eiga mik. Nú vartu til þessa ok er ek nú laus af ánauð minni. Skaltu nú búast í burt af hellinum ok fara fram mínum ráðum, ok muntu finna Bela, bróður minn, við fimmta mann. Þar mun vera Þorgrímr kobbi, landvarnarmaðr hans, með honum. Þeir hafa tekit fé til höfuðs þér af Jökli. Munu þeir slá til bardaga við þik. Hirði ek eigi, þótt þú drepir Þorgrím ok föunauta hans, en gef líf Bela, bróður mínum. Vilda ek, at þit yrðuð fóstbræðr. Ok ef þér er þat í hug at fá mín, far þú heim í Sogn með honum ok bið mín, ok mun ek þar þá fyrir vera. Má vera, at ek lítist þér öðru vís at sjá en nú."

Skilja þau nú. Ok er hann var skammt kominn, kom Beli móti honum við fimmta mann, ok er þeir fundust, mælti Þorgrímr: "Þat er vel, Þorsteinn, er vér fundumst. Skal nú vinna til fjár þess, er Jökull hefir lagt til höfuðs þér."

"Þat þætti mér verða mega, at þú misstir fjárins, en létir lífit," segir Þorsteinn.

Now our saga must turn to Thorstein at the time when he was returning home from his warfare, bound for Grim the bonde, for his brother Thorer resided in that island. Jokul got news of Thorstein’s voyages. He spoke to Ogautan, asking him to try his tricks and by witchcraft bring about a storm against Thorstein, in order that he might be drowned, together with all his men. Ogautan said he would try, mo matter what the result might be. Then, with his incantations, he caused so tremendous a storm against Thorstein that his ships were wrecked amid the tumultuous waves, and all his crew perished. Thorstein held out well a long time, but at last he became tired of swimming, and then he had reached the surf and was beginning to sink down. At this moment he saw an old woman, of very great stature, wading from the shore out toward him. She wore a shriveled skin-cloak, which fell to her feet in front, but was very short behind, and her face was very large and like that of a monster. She stepped over to him and, seizing him up from the sea, said: Will you accept life from me, Thorstein? Answered he: Why should I not, or what is your name Said she: My name is uncommon; it is Skellenefja; but you will have to make some sacrifice in return for your life. Said he: What is it? Made answer she That you grant me the favor that I ask of you. Said thorstein: You will ask nothing from me that will not bring me good luck; but when shall the favor be granted: Answered she: Not yet. Then she bore him ashore, and now he had come to that island governed by Grim. She then wrestled with him till he grew warm, whereupon they parted, each wishing to the other success. Then she walked on, for she said she had other places to call at. But Thorstein went home to the byre, and his meeting there with his brother was the cause of great joy to both of them; and so Thorstein remained there during the winter, and very much was made of him. Now we must turn to Jokul and Ogautan as they were sailing homeward. One very fine day it happened that their ship was suddenly shrouded in darkness, accompanied by such a biting frost and cold that nobody on board dared to turn his face against the wind. They covered their faces with their clothes; but when the weather had cleared off again they saw Ogautan hanging in the hole of the mast-head, and he was dead. Jokul looked upon his death as a great loss, and returning to his kingdom he remained quite. Early the next spring Thorstein and Thorer busked themselves for a voyage, intending to visit their father, Viking; and when they came as far as to Deep River, before they knew of it, Jokul came there to them with thirty men. A combat between them straightway began. Jokul was very eager in the fight, and so was his brother Grim. Thorer and thorstein defended themselves bravely, and a long time passed before these brothers received any wounds from Jokul and his men, for not only did Thorstein deal heavy blows, but Angervadil also bit iron as well as cloth. Thorer defended himself excellently, although he did not have his kesia, which he had left at home. He and Grim met, and they fought very bravely; still the end of the fight was that Grim fell to the ground, dead. By this time Thorstein had slain eighteen men, but, as might be expected, he was both tired and wounded, and so was Thorer. Then the brothers turned their backs together and still defended themselves well. Now Jokul, with his eleven men, pursued them and made so valiant an attack that Thorer fell. Then Thorstein defended himself manfully until there remained no more than Jokul and three of his men. But then Jokul stabbed Thorstein with his sword, wounding him in the upper part of the thigh; and Jokul being a strong man, and bearing on the sword with all his might while he stabbed him, thorstein, who was very tired, and was standing on the very edge of the riverbank, fell down from the crag, while it was all that Jokul could do to stop himself so that he did not fall also. After this Jokul went home, thinking he had slain Thorstein and Thorer; and having come home he remained quiet. But now it is to be told of Thorstein, that he, having fallen from the crag, alighted upon a grassy spot among the rocks; but, being tired and wounded, he was unable to more, and yet he was in his full senses after he had fallen. Angervadil fell out of his hand and down into the river. Thorstein was lying there betwixt life and death, and expecting soon to breathe his last. But before he had lain thus very long he saw Skellinefja coming; she was clad in her skin-gown, and looked no fairer than before. She approached the place where Thorstein was lying, and said: it seem to me, Thorstein, that your misfortunes will never come to an end, and now you seem already to be breathing your last, or will you now grant me the favor upon which we formerly agreed: Said Thorstein: I do not now find myself able to render much of any service to you. Made answer she: My request is that you promise to marry me, and then I will try to heal your wounds. Said Thorstein: I do not know as I had better make that promise, for to me you look like a monster. Said she: Still you have your choice between these two things. You must either marry me or lose your life; and in the latter case, you break, in the bargain, the oath which you swore to me when you pledged yourself to grant my favor after I had saved you at Grim’s Island. Said Thorstein: There is much truth in your words, and it is better to keep one’s promise; hence I vow that I will marry you, and you will prove to be my best helper in time of need; still I should like to stipulate with you that you get me my sword back, so that I may wear it in case my life is prolonged. Says she: So be it. And having taken him up in her skin-gown, she leaped, as if quite unencumbered, up over the crags and proceeded until a large cave was before them. Having entered the cave, she bandaged Thorstein’s wounds and laid him on a soft bed, and within seven nights he was almost healed. One day Skellinefja had left he cave, and in he evening she came back with the sword, which was then dripping wet, and she gave it to thorstein. Said she: Now I have saved your life twice and given you your sword back, of which you are fonder than of aught else; and a fourth thing, which is of great importance to both of us, is that I hanged Ogautan. And yet you have completely rewarded me, for you have delivered me from the spell-bound condition into which Ogautan enchanted me. My name is Ingeborg; I am the daughter of king Skate and the sister of Bele, but my only means of delivery from bondage was that some man of noble birth should promise to marry me. Now you have done this, and I am freed form bondage. Now you must busk yourself for leaving he cave and follow my advices, and you will find my brother Bele and four men with him. Among the latter will be his land-warden, Thorgrim Kobbe. From Jokul they have received some money. Offered as a price for your head, and they will being a battle with you. I do not care if you do kill Thorgrim and his companions, but spare the life of my brother Bele, for I should like to have you become his foster-brother; and if you have a mind to marry me, then go with him home to Sogn and woo me. I shall be there before you, and it may be that I will look otherwise to you then that now. Then they parted, and he had not gone far before he met Bele, accompanied by four men, and, at their meeting, Thorgrim said: It is good, Thorstein, that we have found each other. Now we shall try to win the price put upon your head by Jokul. Said Thorstein: it seems possible to me that you may lose the fee and forfeit your life too.
20. Frá hernaði Þorsteins ok Bela chapter 20

Nú er þar til at taka, at þeir sækja at Þorsteini, en hann varðist vel ok drengiliga, en svá lýkr, at Þorgrímr fell ok þrír förunautar hans.

Þá börðust þeir Þorsteinn ok Beli á nýjan leik. Varði Þorsteinn sik, en vildi ekki særa Bela, en Beli sótti at, þar til at Þorsteinn greip til hans ok setti hann niðr hjá sér ok mælti: "Alls á ek kosti við þik, en ek vil gefa þér nú líf ok þat með, at vit verðum fóstbræðr. Skaltu konungr vera, en ek hersir. Ek vil ok biðja Ingibjargar, systur þinnar, ok hafa heiman með henni eignir í Sogni."

"Eigi er þat it hægra," segir Beli, "af því at systir mín er horfin í burt, svá at engi veit, hvat af henni er orðit."

"Þat má vera," segir Þorsteinn, "at hún sé aftr komin."

"Eigi sé ek," segir Beli, "at hún fái röskara mann en þik, ok vil ek þenna kost allan."

Bundu þeir þetta með fastmælum ok fóru nú heim í Sogn. Varð Beli þess snart varr, at systir hans var aftr komin með öllum þvílíkum blóma sem hún hafði áðr haft í æsku sinni. Þorsteinn hefr upp orð sín ok biðr Ingibjargar sér til handa. Var þat ráðum ráðit. Hafði hún heiman eignir þær, er lágu öðrum megin fjarðarins. Hét sá bær at Framnesi, er Þorsteinn réð fyrir, en sá á Sýrströnd, er Beli réð fyrir.

Þeir Þorsteinn lögðust í hernað um várit ok höfðu fimm skip. Herjuðu þeir víða um sumarit ok varð gott til fjár, en heldu heim at hausti ok höfðu sjau skip.

Annat sumar lögðu þeir í hernað ok varð illt til fjár, því at víkingar allir forðuðust þá. Ok er þeir koma at skerjum þeim, er Elfarsker heita, lögðu þeir at höfn um kveldit, ok gengu þeir á land Þorsteinn ok Beli ok yfir þvert nesit, þat er þeir lágu undir. En er þeir kómu yfir nesit, sáu þeir tólf skip liggja tjölduð svörtum tjöldum. Þeir sáu tjöld á landi, ok rauk af. Þeir þóttust þat vita, at þat mundi vera matsveinar. Þeir köstuðu yfir sik dulklæðum ok gengu þangat, ok er þeir kómu þar at tjalddyrunum, færðust þeir báðir í dyrrnar, svá at ekki náði út at leggja reykinn. Þeir váru harðorðir, er mat gerðu, ok spyrja, hvat stafkörlum þetta væri, at svá váru kyndugir, at þá vildu brenna inni eða kæfa.

Þeir létu endemliga ok svöruðu með dimmri raust ok sögðu, at þeir vildu afla sér matar, -- "eða hverr er sá inn ágæti, er þessum flota ræðr, er hér liggr við land?"

"Þit munuð vera heimskir karlar," segja þeir, "at þit hafið eigi heyrt getit Úfa, er kallaðr er Slysa-Úfi, sonr Herbrands ins höfuðmikla. Þeir eru bræðr ok Ötunfaxi. Ek veit enga frægri en þá undir sólunni."

"Vel segið þit," segir Þorsteinn. Litlu síðar fóru þeir burt til manna sinna.

Snemma um morguninn bjuggust þeir ok reru fram fyrir nesit. Æptu þeir þegar heróp. Hinir bjuggust þá skjótt við ok tóku til vápna sinna, ok tókst þar harðr bardagi. Hafði Úfi lið meira ok var sjálfr inn harðfengasti. Börðust þeir svá lengi, at ekki mátti í milli sjá, hvárir sigruðust.

Inn þriðja dag réð Þorsteinn til uppgöngu á dreka þann, er Slysa-Úfi stýrði, ok Beli þegar eftir honum, ruddust um drengiliga, drápu hvern mann fyrir framan siglu. Þá réð Úfi ór lyftingunni mót Bela, ok áttust þeir við vápnaskipti nokkura stund. Bárust þá sár á Bela, því at Úfi var bæði vápnfimr ok stórhöggr. Í því kom Þorsteinn at með Angrvaðil ok höggr til Úfa. Þat högg kom í hjálminn ok klauf allan búkinn ok brynjaðan manninn at endilöngu, en sverðit kom í siglubitann, ok fal báða eggteinana.

Beli mælti: "Þetta þitt högg, fóstbróðir, mun uppi vera, meðan Norðrlönd eru byggð."

Síðan buðu þeir víkingum tvá kosti, hvárt þeir vildu gefast upp ok halda lífi eða eiga bardaga við þá. Þeir beiddust heldr at þiggja líf af þeim. Gáfu þeir þá öllum grið, því at þeir vildu þat gjarna þiggja. Fengu þeir þá mikit herfang. Lágu þeir þar þrjár nætr ok græddu menn sína ok heldu heim at hausti.

Now we must tell about Thorstein that he was attacked by Bele and his men, but he defended himself well and bravely, and the result was that Thorgrim and three of his companions fell. Then Thorstein and Bele entered a new contest. Thorstein defended himself, but would not wound Bele. Bele kept attacking Thorstein, until the latter seized him and set him down at his side, saying: You are wholly in my power, but I will not only give you your life, but also offer you an opportunity to be come my foster-brother. You shall be king and I shall be herser, and in addition to this I will woo your sister Ingeborg, and get her estates in Sogn as a dowry. Said Bele: This is no very easy matter, for my sister disappeared, so that nobody knows what has become of her. Answered Thorstein: She may have come back. Said Bele: I do not see how she could get a doughtier fellow than you are, and I give my full consent to the proposition. Having settled this with their words of honor, they went home to Sogn. Bele soon became aware that his sister had come back, and that she had not lost any of that blooming beauty which she had had before in her youthful days. Thorstein began to suit, and asked that Ingeborg might become his wife. This was resolved upon. As a dowry she got from her home all the possessions lying on the other side of the fjord. The byre where Thorstein resided was called Framness, but the byre governed by Bele was called Syrstrond. The next spring Thorstein and Bele set out to wage wars, having five ships, and during the summer they harried far and wide, and got enough of booty, but in the fall they returned home again having seven ships. The next summer they went out a harrying again, but got very little booty, for all vikings shunned them; and having reached the small rocky islands called Elfarsker, they anchored in a harbor in the evening. Thorstein and Bele went ashore, and crossed that ness (peninsula) toward which their ships were lying. But having crossed the ness, they saw twelve ships covered with black tilts. On shore they saw tents, from which smoke arose, and they seemed to be sure that these tents must be occupied by cooks. Having taken on a disguise, they went thither, and having come to the door of a tent, they both placed themselves in it in such a manner that the smoke did not find any out-way. The cooks made use of abusive words, and asked what sort of beggars they were, as they were guileful enough to want them burnt alive or smothered. Bele and Thorstein made an ugly disturbance, and answered with hoarse voices that they came to get food; or, said they, who is the excellent man who commands the fleet lying here at the shore? Said they: You must be stupid old men if you have not heard of Ulfe, who is called Ufe the Unlucky, and is the son of Herbrand the Bigheaded. This Ufe is the brother of Otunfaxe, and we know there are no men under the sun more celebrated than these two brothers. Said Thorstein: You tell good tidings. Shortly after, Thorstein and Bele returned to their own men, and early the next morning, having busked themselves, they rowed around the ness and immediately shouted the cry of battle. The others the quickly busked themselves, took their weapons, and a vehement battle began. Ufe had more men, and was himself a most valiant warrior. They fought for a long time in such a manner that it could not be seen which side would gain the victory. But on the third day Thorstein began to board the dragon commanded by Ufe the Unlucky, and he was followed without delay by Bele, and a great havoc they made, killing all who were between the prow and the mast of the ship. Then Ufe came from the poop and attacked Bele, and they fought for some time, until Bele began to get wounds from Ufe, who handled his weapon dexterously and dealt heavy blows. Meanwhile Thorstein came with his Angervadil, and gave Ufe a blow with it. The sword hit the helmet, split the whole body and the byrnie-clad man from head to foot, and Angervadil struck against the mast-beam so forcibly that both its edges sunk out of sight. Said Bele: This blow of yours, foster-brother, will live in the memory of men as long as the North is peopled. Hereupon they offered to the vikings two terms, either to give up and save their lives, or to have a combat. But they preferred to accept a quarter from Thorstein and Bele. The latter gave pardon to all, and they eagerly accepted it. Here much booty was taken, and having stayed three nights, during which time the wounded were healed, they repaired home in the autumn.
21. Bardagi við Angantý chapter 21

At várdögum bjuggust þeir fóstbræðr heiman ok höfðu fimmtán skip. Stýrði Beli dreka þeim, er átt hafði Slysa-Úfi. Þat var góðr gripr, skornir svírarnir ok grafnir ok gylltir mjök. Beli konungr hlaut drekann, því at hann var beztr gripr í herfangi þeira, er þeir fengu eftir Úfa, en þat var vani þeira, at Beli tók jafnan góðgripi þeira, er þeir fengu í herfangi. Eigi þótti annat skip betra en drekinn utan Elliðinn, er átti Ötunfaxi, bróðir hans. Þessi skip höfðu þeir erft eftir Herbrand, föður sinn, ok var Elliði því betri, at hann hafði byr, hvert er hann vildi sigla. Kunni hann náliga mannsmáli. En því hafði Ötunfaxi heldr hlotit Elliða en Úfi, at Úfa hafði hent þat slys, at hann hafði drepit föður sinn ok móður, ok þótti Ötunfaxa hann hafa fyrirgert arfi sínum, ef at réttu skyldi fara. Var Ötunfaxi fyrir þeim bræðrum sakir afls ok vaxtar ok fjölkynngi.

Nú láta þeir fóstbræðr í hernað ok herjuðu víða um Austrveg ok finna fátt víkinga, því at allir stukku undan þeim, er til fréttu. Váru þá engir frægri menn í hernaði en Þorsteinn ok Beli.

Þat var einn dag, at þeir lögðust at andnesi einu. Þeir fóstbræðr sjá öðrum megin undir nesinu liggja tólf skip ok öll stór. Þeir róa skjótliga móti skipunum ok spyrja, hverr fyrir liði sé.

Maðr stóð upp við siglu ok mælti: "Angantýr heiti ek, sonr Hermundar jarls af Gautlandi."

"Þú ert efniligr maðr," segir Þorsteinn, "eða hversu gamall maðr ertu?"

Hann svarar: "Ek er nú nítján vetra."

"Hvárt viltu heldr," segir Beli, "gefa upp skip þín ok fé eða halda bardaga móti oss?"

"Því skjótara skal kjósa," segir Angantýr, "sem kostir eru ójafnari. Vil ek heldr verja fé mitt ok falla með drengskap, ef þess verðr auðit."

"Þá búst við," segir Beli, "en vér munum at sækja."

Bjuggust þá hvárirtveggju ok brjóta upp vápn sín. Þorsteinn mælti við Bela:, "Þat er lítil drengmennska at sækja at þeim með fimmtán skipum, en þeir hafa eigi meir en tólf."

"Hví skulum vér eigi láta liggja hjá þrjú skip?" segir Beli.

Gerðu þeir svá. Var þar harðr bardagi. Svá var lið Angantýs harðfengt, at þeir Beli ok Þorsteinn þóttust eigi í meiri mannraun komit hafa, Börðust þeir þann dag til kvelds, svá at ekki mátti milli sjá, hvárir sigrast mundu.

Annan dag bjuggust þeir til orrostu. Þá mælti Angantýr: "Þat þykki mér ráð, Beli konungr, at vit spillum eigi mönnum okkrum lengr ok berjumst tveir á hólmi, ok hafi sá sigr, er annan vinnr."

Beli játar þessu; gengu síðan á land ok köstuðu feldi undir fætr sér ok börðust drengiliga. allt þar til at Beli mæddist. Þá bárust sár á hann. Þóttist Þorsteinn sjá, at Beli mundi ekki sigrast á Angantý ok svá kom at Beli var bæði móðr ok mjök at þrotum kominn.

Þá mælti Þorsteinn: "Þat þykki mér ráð, Angantýr, at þit léttið ykkrum bardaga, því at ek sé, at Beli er yfirkominn af mæði, en ek vil eigi hafa ódrengskap til at níðast á þér, en veita honum, en svá mun þat fara, ef þú verðr banamaðr hans, at þá mun ek bjóða þér á hólm, ok ætla ek, at okkar sé eigi minni mannamunr en ykkar Bela. Mun ek fella þik á hólmi, ok er þat mikill skaði, ef þit látizt báðir. Nú vil ek bjóða þér þann kost, ef þú gefr Bela líf, at vit sverjumst í fóstbræðralag."

Angantýr segir: "Þat þykki mér jafnaðarboð, at vit Beli gerumst fóstbræðr, en í því þykki mér mikit veitt, ef ek skal vera þinn fóstbróðir."

Var þetta síðan bundit fastmælum. Þeir vöktu sér blóð í lófum ok gengu undir jarðarmen ok sóru þar eiða, at hverr skyldi annars hefna, ef nokkurr þeira yrði með vápnum veginn. Síðan könnuðu þeir lið sitt, ok váru hroðin tvau skip af hvárum. Þeir græddu menn sína, þá er sárir váru. Eftir þat heldu þeir í burt þaðan þrim skipum ok tuttugu ok heldu heim um haustit ok sátu um kyrrt um vetrinn með mikilli virðingu. Þóttu nú engir menn frægri í sínum hernaði en þeir fóstbræðr.


At springtime the foster-brothers busked themselves for leaving home, and had fifteen ships. Bele commanded the dragon which had been owned by Ufe the Unlucky. It was a choice ship, its beak and stern being whittled and carved and extensively overlaid with gold. King Bele got the dragon, for it was the choicest part of the booty which they took when they had slain Ufe, it always being their custom to give to Bele the most costly parts of the booty. No ship was thought better than this dragon excepting Ellide, which was owned by Ufe’s Brother, Otunfaxe. Ufe and Otunfaxe and inherited these ships from their father, Herbrand, and Ellide was the better one of the two in these respects, that it had fair wind wherever it sailed, and it almost understood human speech. But the reason why Otunfaxe and not Ufe had gotten Ellide was, that Ufe had fallen into so bad luck that he had killed both his father and his mother, and it seemed to Otunfaxe that if justice should be done, Ufe had forfeited his right of inheritance. Otunfaxe was the superior of the two brothers on account of his strength, stature and witchcraft. Now the foster-brothers went out a harrying, and waged wars far and wide in the waters of the Baltic, but they found but very few vikings, for everybody, upon hearing of them, fled out of their reach. At this time none were more celebrated for their harrying exploits than Thorstein and Bele. One day the foster-brothers were standing on a promontory, on the other side of which they saw twelve ships lying at anchor, and all of them were very large. They rowed rapidly toward the ships and asked who was the commander of the warriors. A man who stood leaning against the mast made answer: Angantyr is my name; I am a son of jarl Hermund of Gautland. Said Thorstein: You are a hopeful fellow; but how old are you? Made answer he: I am now nineteen years old. Asked Bele: Which do you prefer, to give up your ships and fee or to fight a battle with us? Said Angantyr: The more unequal your terms are, the more promptly I make my choice. I prefer to defend my fee, and fall, sword in hand, if such be my fate. Said Bele: busk yourself then; but we will make the attack. Then both of them busked themselves for the battle and took their weapons. Said Thorstein to Bele: There is very little of noble courage in attacking them with fifteen ships, as they have but twelve. Said Bele Why shall we not lay three of our ships aside? And so they did. A hard battle was now fought. Angantyr’s warriors dealt so heavy blows, that Bele and Thorstein declared that they had never been in greater peril. They fought the whole day until evening, but in such a matter that it could not be seen which party would gain the victory. The next day they busked themselves again for the fight. Then said Angantyr: To me it seems, king Bele, that it would be wiser not to sacrifice any more of our men, but let us two fight a duel, and he who conquers the other in the holm-gang shall be the victorious party. Bele accepted this challenge; so they went ashore, and having thrown a blanket under their feet, they fought bravely until Bele became tired out and began to receive wounds. Thorstein thought it evident that Bele would not gain the victory over Angantyr, and it came to pass that Bele was not only exhausted but also nigh his last breath. Said Thorstein then: It seems best to me, Angantyr, that you cease your fighting, for I see that Bele is so exhausted that he is almost gone. On the other hand, I will not be mean enough to play the dastard toward you and assist him; but if you become the bane of Bele, then I will challenge you to fight a duel with me; and as to personal valor and strength, I think there is no less difference between me and you than there is between you and Bele. I will slay you in a holm-gang duel, and it would be a great loss if you both die. Now I offer you this condition, that if you spare Bele’s life, we will enter into foster-brotherhood upon mutual oaths. Said Angantyr: To me it seems a fair offer that Bele and I enter into foster-brotherhood; but it seems to me a great favor that I may become your foster-brother. Then this was resolved upon and secured by firm pledges on both sides. They opened a vein in the hollow of their hands, crept beneath the sod, (1) and there they solemnly swore that each of them should avenge the other if any one of them should be slain by weapons. Then they reviewed their warriors, and two ships of each party had lost all their men. They healed those who were wounded, and thereupon they left the place with twenty ships, returning home in the fall. They spent the winter at home quietly, and enjoyed great honor. Now none were thought more famous on account of their weapons than these foster-brothers.  

ENDNOTE:

(1)There was a heathen rite of creeping under a sod partially detached from the earth, and letting the blood mix with the mould. Persons forming a foster-brotherhood would make use of this ceremony.
22. Þorsteinn fann Sindra dverg chapter 22

Nú er várdagar kómu, bjuggust þeir heiman fóstbræðr ok höfðu þrjá tigi skipa. Heldu þeir í Austrveg ok herjuðu þar ok um Svíþjóð ok allt it eystra salt. Fóru þeir vel með hernaði sínum, sem þeir váru vanir, drápu víkinga ok ránsmenn, hvar sem þeir gátu þá hent, en létu bændr ok kaupmenn fara í friði.

Nú er þar til at taka í öðrum stað, er Ötunfaxi fréttir fall Úfa, bróður síns. Þótti honum þat mikill skaði. Þat er af honum at segja, at hann leitar þrjú sumur samfleytt þeira fóstbræðra.

Nú er þat at segja, at þeir Beli konungr leggja einn dag at skerjum þeim, er Brennieyjar heita. Leggja þeir í lægi ok búast vel um. Eftir þat ganga þeir fóstbræðr þrír á land ok þar til, er þeir koma at einum bæ litlum. Þar stóð maðr fyrir dyrum ok klauf skíð. Hann var í grænni heklu ok furðu digr. Hann heilsar Þorsteini með nafni.

Þorsteinn segir: "Okkar er mikill kennispeki munr, þú heilsar mér með nafni, en ek man eigi, at ek hafi sét þik, eða hvat heitir þú?"

"Óvant er nafn mitt," segir hann, "ek heiti Brennir, ok er ek Vífilsson, bróðir Víkings, föður þíns. Átti hann mik, þá er hann var í hernaði, er hann átti heima hjá Háloga. Hefi ek hér upp vaxit í eynni ok búit hér síðan. En hefir þú nokkut, Þorsteinn frændi, frétt til Ötunfaxa víkings?"

"Eigi," segir Þorsteinn, "eða hvat kanntu af honum at segja?"

"Þat" sagði Brennir, "at hann hefir leitat þín um þrjú ár, ok liggr hann hér öðrum megin eyjanna með öllum sínum flota. Vill hann hefna Slysa-Úfa, bróður síns. Hann hefir fjóra tigi skipa ok öll stór. Hann er stórr sem tröll, en bíta engi járn."

"Hvat er nú til ráða?" segir Þorsteinn.

"Engi ráð kann ek þér at gefa," segir Brennir, "nema þú getir fundit Sindra dverg, því at ek veit, at honum er illa við hann, enda mun honum sízt ráðaskortr."

"Hvert er hans at vænta?" segir Þorsteinn.

"Hann á heima í eyjunni, er hér liggr skammt undan landi, er heitir in minni Brenniey. Hann býr í einum steini, en óvænligt þykki mér, at þú getir hann fundit, en til reiðu er þér hér í nótt."

"Hitt mun fyrir liggja," segir Þorsteinn, "at halda eigi kyrru fyrir." Gengu þeir þá til skipa sinna.

Síðan setti Þorsteinn fram bát ok reri til eyjarinnar. Þorsteinn gekk þar einn á land. Ok er hann kom at einum læk, sá hann, at tvau börn léku sér við lækinn, piltr ok stúlka, Þorsteinn frétti þau at nafni.

Sveinninn nefndist Herrauðr, en píkan Herríðr, "Hefi ek týnt gulli mínu," segir hún. "Veit ek þat muni Sindra, föður mínum, illa líka. Mun ek eiga ván hirtingar."

Þorsteinn segir: "Hér er eitt gull, er ek vil gefa þér."

Hún tók við gullinu ok varð glöð við, -- "ok skal ek þetta fá föður mínum, eða má ek ekki þat gera, ef þér væri bati í?"

"Eigi er þat," segir Þorsteinn, "ok kom þú hingat föður þínum til tals við mik ok fylg svá, at hann sé í ráðum með mér um þá hluti, er mik varðar."

"Því at eins get ek þat gert," segir Herríðr, "at Herrauðr, bróðir minn, fylgi mínum vilja, því at Sindri má ekki móti honum láta."

"Veiztu þat," segir Herrauðr, "at ek fylgi þér um alla hluti."

Þorsteinn spretti af sér silfrbelti ok gaf honum. Þar fylgdi búinn knífr.

Sveinninn mælti: "Þetta var vel gefit. Skal ek allan hug á leggja, at þitt mál gangi fram. Bíð hér, til þess við systkin komum aftr." Nú gerði Þorsteinn svá.

En er stund löng var liðin, kom þar Sindri dvergr ok þau systkin með honum. Sindri heilsar Þorsteini glaðliga ok mælti "Hvat viltu mér, Þorsteinn?"

"Þat," segir Þorsteinn, "at ek vilda, at þú legðir ráð á með mér, hversu ek gæti unnit Ötunfaxa víking."

"Þar sé ek ekki ráð til," segir Sindri, "at nokkurr mennskr maðr geti Faxa unnit. Miklu er hann verri viðreignar en nokkurr annarr. Vil ek letja þik þess at halda til orrostu við hann, því at þú lætr þar menn þína, ok er þér bezt at halda í burt í nótt undan eyjunum."

"Þat skal aldri verða," segir Þorsteinn. "Þótt ek viti þat fyrir, at ek missa lífit, þá vil ek þat þó heldr en flýja at óreyndu."

"Þat sé ek, "segir Sindri, "at þú ert in mesta kempa. Legg ek þat til með þér, at þú affermir öll skip þín í nótt ok berir fjárhlut á land, en hlaðir skipin af trjám ok grjóti. Síðan haf þú þik snemma at á morgin ok kom fyrr at þeim en þeir vakna. Megið þit kemba þeim ekki hagligar tjaldkúlur. Þurfið þit þess alls við, ef þér getið nokkurn bug á Faxa unnit, því at þat vil ek segja þér, at því síðr bíta hann nokkur járn, at hann bítr eigi sverðit Angrvaðill. Hér er einn tygilknífr, er Herríðr, dóttir mín, vill gefa þér ok launa þér svá gullit, ok þat ætla ek, at hann bíti á Ötunfaxa, ef þú kemr honum hagliga við. Herrauðr, sonr minn, mun því launa þér beltit, at þú skalt nefna mik á nafn, ef þér þykkir nokkut á bresta. Munu vit nú skilja fyrst at sinni, ok far þú vel ok heill. Þat mæli ek um, at mínar dísir sé þér jafnan til fylgis."

Síðan fór Þorsteinn til báts síns ok reri til sinna manna. Bjóst hann við þegar um nóttina ok færði fé af skipum, en grjót í staðinn. Ok er þat var gert, kom Brennir karl af bæ ofan ok hafði kylfu stóra í hendi, alla slegna af járni ok stórum járngöddum. Hún var svá þung, at varla gat meðalmaðr lyft af jörðu.

Brennir mælti: "Handvápn þetta vil ek gefa þér, Þorsteinn frændi, ok mun þér einum vápnhæft sakir þunga, en þó mun hún heldr létt við Ötunfaxa. Þykki mér nú ráð, at Angantýr hafi sverðit Angrvaðil, en þú berist með kylfunni. Þó at hún sé ekki fimligt meðfæri, þá mun hún þó mannskæð vera. Vilda ek nú, frændi, geta veitt þér meira lið, en eigi hefi ek föng á því." Snýr hann þá á land upp.

When spring opened, the foster-brothers, busked themselves for departing from home, and had thirty ships. They sailed to the east and harried in Sweden and in all parts of the Baltic. As usual, they carried on their warfare in the seeming matter, slaying vikings and pirates wherever they could find them, but leaving bondes and chapmen in peace. On the other hand, it is to be told that Otunfaxe, when he heard of the death of his brother Ufe, thought it a great loss. And of him it is to be related, that for three summers together he searched for the foster-brothers. Now it is furthermore to be related, that Bele and his men one day laid their ships near some small rocky islands, called Brenner’s Isles. They cast anchor and busked themselves well. Hereupon all the three foster-brothers went ashore, and proceeded until they came to a small byre. There stood a man outside the door splitting wood; he was clad in a green cloak, and was a man of astonishing corpulency. He greeted Thorstein by name. Said Thorstein: We differ widely as to our faculty of recognition; you greet me by name, but I do not remember that I have ever seen you before; what is your name? Says he: My name is an uncommon one. I hight Brenner. I am son of Vifil, and a brother of your father Viking. I was born at the time when my father was engaged in warfare, and had his home with Haloge. I was raised on this island, and have lived here since. But have you , my nephew Thorstein, heard anything about the viking Otunfaxe? Answered Thorstein: No; or what can you tell me about him? Made answer Brenner: This I can tell, that he has been searching for you during the last three years, and now he lies here on the other side of those islands with all his fleet; he wants to avenge his brother Ufe the Unlucky. He has forty ships, all of which are very large, and he himself is as big as a troll, and no weapons can bite him. Said Thorstein: What is to be done now? Made answer Brenner: I can give you no advice unless you have a chance to meet the dwarf Sindre; and moreover he will least of all be embarrassed in finding out what ought to be done. Asked Thorstein: Where can I expect to find him? Made answer Brenner: His home is in the island which lies near the shore, and is called the Smaller Brenner’s Isle. He lives in a stone. I scarcely hope that you will be able to find him, but you are welcome here to-night. Said Thorstein: Something else must be done than to keep quiet. Then they went to their ships, and Thorstein launched a boat and rowed to the island. He went ashore alone, and when he came to a little stream, he saw two children, a boy and a girl, playing on its banks. Thorstein asked their names. The boy called himself Herraud, and the girl Herrid. Said she: I have lost my gold ring, and I know this will make my father, Sindre, cross, and I think I may look for punishment. Said Thorstein: Here is a gold ring, which I will give you. She accepted the gold ring and was pleased with it. Said she: I will give this to my father; but is there nothing that I might do that might be of service to you? Made answer Thorstein: Nothing; but bring your father here, that I may have a talk with him, and manage the matter in such a manner that he may advise me concerning those things which are of importance to me. Answered Herrid: I can do this only provided my brother Herraud acts according to my will, for Sindre never refused him anything. Said Herraud: You know I take your part in everything. Thorstein unbuckled a silver belt which he wore, and gave it him; to it was attached a beautifully ornamented knife. Said the boy: This is a nice present; I shall take all possible pains to promote your wish; wait here until I and my sister come back. Thorstein did so, and after a long while the dwarf Sindre came, accompanied by the boy and his sister. Sindre greeted Thorstein heartily, and said: What do you want of me, Thorstein:
Made answer Thorstein: I want you to give me advice as to how I may conquer the viking Otunfaxe.

Answered Sindre: It seems to me wholly impossible for any human being to vanquish Faxe, for he is worse to deal with than anybody else, and I will advise you not to fight any battle with im, for you will only lose your men, and hence the best thing for you to do is to turn your prows away from the island to-night. Made answer Thorstein: That shall never be; though I knew it before that I should lose my life, I would rather choose that then flee from danger before it has been tried. Said Sindre: I see that you are a very great champion, and I suggest to you that you unload all your ships this night, bring all valuable things on shore, and that you load the ships again with wood and stones. Then busk yourself early tomorrow morning and come to them before they wake; thus you may be able to surprise them in their own tents. You need all this if there shall be any show for you of gaining a victory over Faxe; for I will tell you this, that so far is common iron from biting him, that he cannot even be scathed by the sword Angervadil. Here is a belt-dirk, which my daughter Herrid will give you, and thus reward you for the gold ring, and I am of the opinion that it will bite Otunfaxe if you use it skillfully. Man son, Herraud, proposes this reward for the belt, that you shall name my name if you seem to be hard pressed. Now we must part for a while; fare you well, and good luck to you. By my power of enchanting I promise that my dises (female guardian spirits) shall always follow and assist you.

Hereupon Thorstein went to his boat and rowed to his men. Straightway afterward in the night he busked himself and brought the fee out of the ships, but put stones in them instead; and when this was done the old man Brenner came down from his byre, holding in his hand a large club which was all covered with iron and large iron spikes, and so heavy that a man with common strength could scarcely lift it from the ground.

Said Brenner: This hand-weapon I will give you, my nephew Thorstein. You alone can manage it, on account of its weight; but yet, it will be rather light for the fight with Otunfaxe. Now it seems to me that it would be a wise measure if Angantyr would take the sword Angervadil, and you fight with this club, for, although it is no handy weapon, still it will prove fatal to many a man. Now my nephew, I would like to be able to help you more, but I have not the opportunity. Then Brenner went back from the shore.
23. Bardagi við Ötunfaxa chapter 23

Síðan greiddu þeir róðr fram fyrir nesit, er þeir váru búnir, ok geta þá at líta, hvar Ötunfaxi liggr með öllu sínu skipaliði. Létu þeir þegar ganga grjótflaugina svá hart ok ákaft, at þeir drápu meir en hundrað manna, áðr þeir vöknuðu, en frá því er liðit vaknaði, tóku þeir snarpliga við. Var þá bardagi inn mannskæðasti. Fell margt manna af þeim fóstbræðrum, því at svá mátti at kveða, at Faxi skyti af hverjum fingri. Gekk svá allt til nætr. Váru þá hroðin tíu skip þeira fóstbræðra.

Annan dag eftir tóku þeir til orrostu, ok gekk með þvílíku móti mannfallit sem inn fyrra dag. Réðu þeir jafnan til uppgöngu á skip Faxa ok gerðu mikinn mannskaða hvert sinn, en á drekann Elliða kómust þeir aldri fyrir vörn Faxa ok þess, at hann var svá borðhár. En um kveldit váru hroðin öll skip þeira fóstbræðra nema drekinn Úfanautr.

Þat sáu þeir báða daga, at sinn maðr kom fram á hvárn hamarinn ok skaut í ákafa út á skip Faxa. Þar sáu þeir Sindra dverg, ok varð maðr fyrir hverri ör. Fekk Faxi af því mikinn mannskaða. Á öðrum hamrinum var Brennir ok skaut heldr bogmannliga út á skipin. Eigi var traust, at eigi fyki steinar á skipin, ok leituðu þeir allir grunns, er hann kastaði. Sukku af því mörg skipin fyrir Faxa. Var þá ok svá komit, at öll skip hans váru hroðin nema Elliði.

Þetta var þann tíma, er nótt var björt, ok heldu þeir bardaga alla nóttina. Þorsteinn réð til uppgöngu á drekann ok Angantýr ok Beli, en margt var manna eftir á Elliða. Faxi hleypr fram á móti þeim fóstbræðrum, Angantý ok Bela. Þeir eigast við hart vápnaskipti. Bitu Faxa engi járn, en eigi höfðu þeir lengi barizt, áðr sár bárust á þá báða. Í því kom Þorsteinn at ok sló með kylfunni sem honum var hægast utan við vangann á Faxa, en hann laut hvergi við. Þá sló Þorsteinn annat ok engu minna. Þá leiddust Faxa höggin, ok stökk fyrir borð ok í kaf, svá at í iljar honum var at sjá. Þeim varð bilt báðum, Bela ok Angantý, eftir at fara. Þorsteinn hljóp þegar fyrir borð ok lagðist eftir Faxa, en hann undan. Var því líkast sem hvalr legðist þar, sem Faxi fór. Gekk svá lengi ok þar til, er Faxi kom á land. En þeir fóstbræðr börðust við menn, sem eftir váru, ok léttu eigi fyrr en þeir höfðu drepit þá alla, er á drekanum váru. Síðan tóku þeir sér bát ok reru til lands at þeim Faxa ok Þorsteini.

Nú sem Faxi er á land kominn, en Þorsteinn lagðist at framan, þreif Faxi upp stein ok sendi at Þorsteini, en hann fór í kaf undan ok lagðist út undan, ok varð mikit áfall af því, at steinninn kom niðr. Upp tók hann annan ok inn þriðja, ok fóru allir á eina leið. Ok í því kómu þeir fóstbræðr, Angantýr ok Beli. Þorsteinn kastaði eftir kylfunni á drekanum, er hann hljóp fyrir borð, ok hafði Beli tekit upp kylfuna ok kom þar at, sem Ötunfaxi stendr, ok slær með kylfunni aftan undir hnakkann ok þegar annat eftir, en Angantýr grýtti hann með stórum steinum.

Tók Faxa nú heldr at sárna skallinn ok leiddist at búa undir þeira höggum ok steypti sér í kaf ofan af hamrinum. Lagðist hann þá á haf ok Þorsteinn eftir, ok er Faxi sá þat, sneri hann í móti Þorsteini, ok takast þeir til á sundinu. Höfðu þeir þá sviptingar miklar ok stórar. Færðu hvárir aðra í kaf. Þó kenndi Þorsteinn aflsmunar. Þar kom, at Faxi færði Þorstein til grunna. Tók þá af honum sundlætin. Þorsteinn þóttist þá vita, at Faxi ætlar at bíta sundr barkann í honum.

Þorsteinn mælti: "Hvat mun mér annan tíma meiri þörf á þér, Sindri dvergr, en nú?"

Þorsteinn varð við þat varr, at gripit var á herðar Faxa svá hart, at því næst var hann við grunni niðri ok Þorsteinn ofan á honum. Hann var þá mjök móðr ok þjakaðr af umfangi þeira. Þorsteinn tekr þá tygilknífinn, sem Sindri gaf honum. Hann stingr honum fyrir bringspalir Faxa, svá at sökk allt upp at skafti. Reist hann þá niðr allan kviðinn at smáþörmum.

Þó fann hann, at Faxi var eigi dauðr, því at hann mælti þá: "Mikil þrekvirki hefir þú unnit, Þorsteinn, er þú hefir mér fyrir komit, því at ek hefi átt níutigi orrostur ok haft í öllum sigr nema í þessi. Ek hefi sigrazt átta tigi sinna í einvígum, svá at ek hefi á hólm gengit, en ek er nú níu tigi ára gamall."

Ekki þótti Þorsteini gagn, at hann fleipraði fleira, ef hann mátti at gera. Rak hann þá ór honum innan þat laust var.

Nú er at segja af þeim Angantý ok Bela, at þeir tóku sér skip ok reru fram á sjóinn ok leita at þeim Faxa ok Þorsteini ok finna þá hvergi langan tíma. Þá kómu þeir þar at, sem sjórinn var blandinn ok rauðr af blóði. Þóttust þeir þá vita, at þar mundi Faxi á grunni niðri ok Þorstein drepit hafa. Ok er stund leið, sáu þeir, at flaut á sjónum nokkut óþokkaligt. Þeir fóru þangat ok sáu þar fljóta innyfli mikil ok ósélig. Litlu síðar kom Þorsteinn upp ok var þá svá lúinn ok yfirkominn, at eigi gat hann flotit á sjónum. Reru þeir þá at honum ok drógu hann upp í skipit. Var honum þá minni ván lífs, en ekki var hann mjök sárr, en hlaupit var niðr hold af beinum í hnykla. Fóru þeir ok leituðu honum hægenda. Raknaði hann þá skjótt.

Fóru þeir aftr til eyjanna ok könnuðu valinn, ok váru eigi meir en þrjátigi manna græðandi. Fóru þeir þá til Brennis karls ok þökkuðu honum liðsemd sína. Svá fór Þorsteinn til innar minni Brennieyjar at finna Sindra dverg ok gaf honum góðar gjafir, ok skildu með inni mestu vináttu. Tók Þorsteinn drekann Elliða í sitt hlutskipti, en Beli hafði drekann Úfanaut, en Angantýr tók svá mikit gull ok silfr sem honum líkaði í sitt hlutskipti. Gaf Þorsteinn Brenni, frænda sínum, öll þau skip, er þeir kómust ekki með, en þeir heldu burt á þrim skipum heim í Sogn ok sátu þar um vetrinn.

When they had made ready they rowed quickly around the ness, and then they saw the place where Otunfaxe and all his naval force was lying. Without delay they sent forth a shower of stones so hard and vehemently that they slew more than a hundred men in their sleep, having taken them by surprise; but from the moment when the warriors awoke they made a powerful resistance. Then a bloody battle was fought. A large number of the men of the foster-brothers fell, for it could almost be said that Otunfaxe shot from every finger. So it went on until night set in; then ten of the foster-brothers ships were cleared. On the second day the battle began anew, and the slaughter was no less than on the day before. They tried several times to board Faxe’s ship, and every time they made great slaughter; but never succeeded in boarding Ellide, both because Faxe defended her and because her sides were so high. But in the evening all the ships of the foster-brothers were cleared, excepting the dragon called Ufe’s naut (gift). On both days they saw that two men came from the island, and that they took their positions one on one crag and the other on another, both shooting with all their might at Faxes ship. Here they saw the dwarf Sindre, every one of whose arrows brought down a man, and in this manner a great many of Faxe’s men lost their lives. The one on the other crag was Brenner, who was shooting more like a bowman out against the ships. It did happen occasionally that stones came flying over the ships, and every stone thrown by Brenner was inclined to go to the bottom, and as a consequence of this, many of Faxe’s ships sunk. Thus it happened that all his ships, too, had been cleared, excepting Ellide. This battle took place at that time of the year when the nights are bright, and therefore they fought the whole night. Thorstein, together with Angantyr and Bele, tried to board the dragon, but there were many men left on Ellide. Faxe ran forward against the foster-brothers, Angantyr, and Bele, and a good many blows were given and received; but no iron weapons would bite Faxe, and before they had fought very long Angantyr and Bele began to receive wounds. At this moment Thorstein approached, and with his club smote the cheek of Faxe in the way that it came handiest for him, but Faxe did not even lout the least at the blow. Thorstein smote again, just as hard as before; and now Faxe did not like the blows, but plunged himself overboard into the sea, so that only the soles of his feet could be seen. To both Bele and Angantyr it seemed disgusting to follow him; but Thorstein ran overboard, and swam after the fleeing Faxe, who looked like a whale. Thus a long time passed until Faxe, having landed, seized a stone and threw it at Thorstein just as he was swimming toward the shore. He warded off the blow by diving, and swam out of the reach of the stone, which made a great splash as it fell. Faxe took up another stone, and a third one, both of which went the same way as the first one. But meanwhile the foster-brothers, Angantyr and Bele, approached. When Thorstein sprang overboard, he threw his club backwards, but Bele had taken it up, and, having now reached the spot where Otunfaxe was standing, he smote him in the back part of the head with the club. This he did uninterrupted again, while Angantyr as the same time was pelting him with large stones. Now Faxe’s skull began to ache considerably, and, not liking to receive their blows, he plunged himself form the crag down into the sea, and swam from the shore, pursued by Thorstein. Faxe, observing this, turned against Thorstein, and a wrestle between the two swimming antagonists now took place, in which there were great, fearful tussles. They were alternately drawn into the deep by each other, and yet Thorstein found out that Faxe’s strength was great than his own; and it came to pass that Faxe brought Thorstein to the bottom, and thus he lost his power of swimming. Now Thorstein, being almost sure that Faxe intended to bite his throat to pieces, said: How could I ever want you more than now, dwarf Sindre? And suddenly he observed that Faxe’s shoulder was seized by a grip so powerful that he soon sank to the bottom, with Thorstein upon him. Thorstein, who by this time had become very tired from the struggle, seized the belt-knife which had been given to him by Sindre, and stabbed Faxe in the breast sinking the knife into his body up to the handle, and then slashing his belly down to the lower abdomen; but still he found that Faxe was not dead yet, for now said the latter: A great deed you have done, Thorstein, in putting me to death, for I have fought ninety battles, and been victorious in all, excepting this: In duels I have been the victor eighty times, so that I certainly may say I have had a holm-gang; but now I am ninety years old. Thorstein thought it useless to let him go on prattling any longer if he could do anything to prevent it, and so he tore away everything that was loose within him. Now the saga goes to tell about Angantyr and Bele, that they took a boat and rowed in it out on the sea, searching for Faxe and Thorstein, but for along time they did not find them anywhere. At last they came to a place where the sea was mixed with blood, and quite red. They thought it must be that Faxe was at the bottom of the water, and that he had slain Thorstein, and after a while they saw some nasty thing floating upon the surface of the sea. They went nearer and saw some large, horrible looking bowels floating there. Shortly afterward Thorstein emerged from the water, but so exhausted and outdone that he could not keep himself afloat. Then they rowed over to him, and dragged him on board. At this time there was but little hope of his life, and still he was not much wounded, but the flesh of his body was almost torn from his bones into knots. They went away and procured some relief for him, after which he soon came to his senses. They went back to the islands, and made a search of the battle-field for the slain; but only thirty men were found fit to be healed. Then they went to the old man Brenner, thanking him for his assistance. Thorstein went to the lesser Brenner’s Isle to call on the dwarf Sindre, to whom he made splendid presents, and thus parted in great friendship. Thorstein got the dragon Ellide as his lot of the booty, while Bele got Ufe’s naut, and Angantyr as much gold and silver as he wished. Thorstein gave his uncle Brenner all those ships which they could not bring away with them. With three ships they left and went back to Sogn, where they spent the winter.
24. Þeir félagar unnu Orkneyjar chapter 24

At várdögum heldu þeir í hernað. Angantýr spyrr, hvert þá skyldi halda, segist hyggja, at eytt mundi víkingum í Eystrasalti.

"Þá skulum vér," segir Beli konungr, "halda vestr um haf, því at þangat höfum vér ekki herjat áðr," segir hann.

Nú gera þeir svá. Þegar þeir koma til Orkneyja, ganga þeir þar á land ok herja, brenna byggðir, en ræna fé. Gera þeir mikit hervirki, en allt var hrætt við þá ok stökk undan. Herrauðr hét jarl sá, er stýra átti eyjunum. En er hann spyrr þetta hervirki, safnar hann liði í móti þeim ok fór nætr sem daga, þar til þeir fundust við ey þá, er heitir Papey. Þar slær þegar í bardaga með þeim. Var þar engi liðsmunr. Þeir börðust svá tvá daga, at ekki mátti milli sjá, hvárir sigrast mundu. Þar kom um síðir, at mannfallinu hallaði á Herrauð. Hruðust þá skip hans. Náðu þeir bræðr þá uppgöngu, ok þar kom um síðir, at Herrauðr jarl fell ok flestallt lið hans. Síðan fóru þeir um allar eyjar ok lögðu undir sik.

Eftir þat bjuggust þeir til heimferðar. Bauð Beli konungr Þorsteini eyjarnar ok gerast þar jarl yfir, en hann kveðst þat ekki vilja, -- "vil ek heldr vera hersir ok skilja ekki við þik en heita jarl ok vera fjarlægr þér at vistum."

Þá bauð hann Angantý at vera þar jarl yfir, ok þat þá hann, ok gerðist hann jarl yfir eyjunum ok skyldi lúka skatt árliga.

Síðan heldu þeir heim í Sogn ok sátu þar þann vetr. Þeir heldu menn sína vel, bæði at vápnum ok klæðum. Þóttu nú engir menn framari en þeir fóstbræðr. Þeim varð barna auðit. Hét Helgi ok Hálfdan synir Bela, en Ingibjörg dóttir. Var hún yngst þeira systkina. Þorsteinn átti þann son, er Friðþjófr hét.

Haraldr óx upp í eyjunni hjá Grími, en þegar hann hafði aldr til, lagðist hann í hernað ok varð inn frægasti maðr, þótt hans sé lítt getit í þessi sögu. Helt hann nafni sínu ok var kallaðr Haraldr kesja, ok er margt manna frá honum komit. Þeir Þorsteinn ok Beli, Grímr ok Haraldr heldu vináttu sinni, meðan þeir lifðu.

In the spring they set out for warfare again. Angantyr asked whither they should turn their prows, saying that he thought the Baltic had already been cleared of vikings. Says king Bele: Let us then take our course into the western waters, for we have never been there a harrying before. So they did, and having reached the Orkneys, they went ashore, and waged war, destroying the inhabited parts of these islands by fire and plundering the fee; and so fearfully did they carry on their depredations that all living things fled for fear of them. Herraud hight the jarl who ruled the islands. When he heard of their depredations he gathered an army to meet hem, and marched by day and by night until he found them at an island called Pap Isle. Here it came to a battle between them, and their troops were equal. For two days they fought in such a manner that it could not be seen which party would be victorious. At last the slaughter began to lean to the disadvantage of Herraud, whose ships were cleared, so that the brothers succeeded in boarding them, and finally jarl Herraud fell, together with the most of his men. Hereupon they made expeditions through all the islands, which they subjugated, and the then busked themselves for the home journey. King Bele offered to make Thorstein jarl of all the islands, but the latter declined, saying: I would rather be a herser, and not part with you, than have the name of jarl, and live far away from you. Then he offered Angantyr the jarlship of those islands, which offer was accepted. Afterward they returned home to Sogn, where they stayed the next winter, keeping their men well, both as to weapons and clothes. And now none were thought to be superior to the foster-brothers. Children were granted to them; the sons of Bele hight Helge and Halfdan, and his daughter hight Ingeborg; she was the youngest of children. Thorstein had a son , who hight Fridthjof. Harald grew up in the island with Grim, but when he had reached the age of maturity he set out a harrying and became a most noted man, although he is not much spoken of in this saga. He kept his nick-name, being called Harald Kesia, and a large family is descended from him. Thorstein, Bele, Grim and Harald remained friends as long as they lived.
25. Skipti Þorsteins ok Jökuls chapter 25

Nú er þar til at taka, sem jökull Njörfason er, at hann stýrði Upplöndum, þá er þeir váru báðir dauðir, Njörfi ok Víkingr. Höfðu þeir vel haldit vináttu sinni allt til dauðadags, Jökull aflaði sér skipa ok fjár ok var inn harðasti víkingr ok fór í meðallagi með her sínum, en ekki betr. Gekk svá fram nokkur ár, at hann var inn nafnfrægasti. Hann lá í hernaði mest um Eystrasalt.

Eigi höfðu þeir Þorsteinn ok Beli lengi heima verit, áðr þeir bjuggust í hernað, ok heldu suðr með landi, svá í gegnum Eyrarsund, ok herjuðu á Saxland um sumarit ok gerðu mikit hervirki ok fengu þar mikit fé í gulli ok silfri ok mörgum öðrum gersimum. Síðan ætluðu þeir at sigla heim, sem þeir gerðu. Ok er þeir kómu fyrir mynni á Limafirði, þá kemr at þeim stormr veðrs ok rak þá til hafs, ok skilja skjótliga skipin. Tekr þá sjór at ganga á bæði borð, ok stóðu allir menn í austri. Þar kemr, at þessi stormr rekr upp nauðreka drekann Elliða at Borgundarhólmi einskipa.

Þar kemr við land þann tíma Jökull með tíu skipum ok öll vel búin sakir vápna ok manna. Þarf þá eigi at sökum at spyrja, at Jökull lét sækja at Þorsteini ok mönnum hans. Þorsteinn var lítt við búinn, því at þeir váru mjök dasaðir af mæði ok sjávargangi. Þessi bardagi var bæði harðr ok mannskæðr.

Var Jökull inn ákafasti ok eggjaði fast menn sína ok segir, at þeir mundu aldri í betra færi komast við Þorstein, -- "mun oss ok ævinlig brigzl í vera, ef Þorsteinn kemst nú undan."

Sóttu þeir þá at Þorsteini ok mönnum hans ok léttu eigi fyrr við en menn hans váru allir fallnir, svá at engi maðr stóð á drekanum nema Þorsteinn einnsaman. Hann varðist þá enn karlmannliga. Var þat þá langan tíma, at þeir kómu engu sári á hann. Þar kom þó um síðir, at þeir kómu svá nærri honum, at þeir kómu á hann spjótalögum, ok hjó hann þau flestöll af sér, því at sverðit Angrvaðill beit sem vant var. Jökull sótti þá fast at ok lagði til hans spjóti í gegnum lærit. Í því hjó Þorsteinn til Jökuls. Þat högg kom á höndina fyrir framan olboga ok tók af höndina. Í því gátu þeir borit skjöldu at Þorsteini ok tekit hann. Þá var komit at kveldi, svá at þeim þótti eigi vígt at honum. Var þá settr fjöturr á fætr honum, en bogastrengr á hendr. Váru þá fengnir til tólf menn at geyma hans um nóttina.

Ok er allir váru á land komnir nema þeir tólf ok Þorsteinn, mælti hann: "Hvárt vilið þér heldr skemmta mér eða ek skemmti yðr?"

Þeir kváðu honum óvant um skemmtun, at hann skyldi deyja þegar á morgin. Þorsteinn hugsaði nú sitt ráð ok þóttist eigi vel staddr vera. Hann mælti þá hljótt fyrir munni sér: "Hvat mun ek nú í annan tíma þurfa þín meir, Sindri félagi, en nú, ef eigi væri lokit allri okkar vináttu?"

Sló þá dimmu yfir varðmennina, ok því næst sofnuðu þeir allir. Þá sá Þorsteinn, hvar Sindri fór eftir skipinu ok at honum ok mælti: "Lítt ertu staddr nú, Þorsteinn félagi, ok mun ráð at bjarga þér."

Hann blés upp lásinn. Síðan hjó hann af honum bogastrenginn. Var Þorsteinn þá lauss. Tók hann þá sverðit, því at hann vissi, hvar hann hafði við þat skilit. Sneri hann þá til varðmanna ok drap þá alla.

Síðan hvarf Sindri í burt, en Þorsteinn tók sér bát ok reri í land ok fór burt ok heim í Sogn. Var þar fagnafundr með þeim Bela, ok þóttist hann Þorstein ór helju heimt hafa. Jökull vaknar snemma um morgininn ok hugði gott til at taka bandingjann ok drepa. En er þeir kómu þar, var bandinginn burtu, en varðmenn dauðir. Þóttust þeir þá sakna vinar í stað. Helt Jökull heim ok undi lítt við sína ferð, missi Þorsteins, en fengit þau örkuml, at hann varð aldri heill. Var hann kallaðr síðan Jökull inn einhendi.

Þeir fóstbræðr, Beli konungr ok Þorsteinn, söfnuðu liði ok fóru til Upplanda ok gerðu orð Jökli ok hösluðu honum völl til orrostu. Jökull safnaði mönnum, ok sátu þó margir heima, þeir er lýðskyldugir váru undir Jökul, ok gerðu þat fyrir vináttu sakir við Þorstein. Ok er Jökull fekk fátt manna, þá treystist hann eigi að halda til orrostu við þá, ok stökk hann ór landi ok fór þá til Vallands til Vilhjálms, mágs síns. Tók hann þar þriðjung ríkis til forráða. Beli konungr ok Þorsteinn lögðu undir sik Upplönd ok fóru heim síðan ok settust um kyrrt.

Nokkuru síðar kómu menn af Vallandi til móts við Þorstein, þeir er Jökull sendi. Var þat at erendum, at Jökull bauð Þorsteini sættir, ok skyldu þeir finnast á Limafirði ok hafa þrjú skip hvárir ok tengja saman sættir. Þorsteini fellst þetta vel í geð, sagðist nauðigr hafa átt ófrið við Jökul sakir Njörfa konungs ok vináttu þeira Víkings.

Var þetta nú staðráðit. Fóru sendimenn heim, en Þorsteinn bjóst heiman um sumarit ok hafði drekann Elliða ok tvau skip önnur. Bela þótti sjá ferð ekki vænlig, þótti Jökull svikull ok ótrúr. Þat var ráð hans, at hann sendi undan njósnarmenn at vita, hvárt allt væri tryggt af hendi Jökuls, ok færi svá aftr í mót þeim til Eyrarsunds. Svá gerðu þeir ok kómu aftr ok sögðu þeim, at þeir lægi á Limafirði með þrim skipum ok allt væri kyrrt um þá. Heldu þeir þá fram ferðinni á fjörðinn, ok fundust í nefndum stað, ok gengu þar saman sættir með þeim at svá fyrir skildu, at mannalát, áverkar ok bardagar skyldi vera jafnt, en Jökull skyldi taka aftr ríki sitt ok skyldi eigi vera skattgildr undir nokkurn mann. Ríki þat, er Þorsteinn átti at Upplöndum, skyldi falla undir Jökul fyrir handarhöggit. Með þessu skyldu þeir vera sáttir. Fór Jökull þá heim í ríki sitt ok settist þar um kyrrt.

Þeir Þorsteinn ok Beli fóru heim í Sogn ok settust nú at ríkjum sínum ok léttu öllum hernaði. Önduð var Ingibjörg, kona Þorsteins, ok hafði Ingibjörg Beladóttir hennar nafn. Friðþjófr óx upp með föður sínum. Þorsteinn átti dóttur, er Véfreyja hét. Hún var þá roskin, er hér var komit sögunni, því at hún var getin í hellinum hjá Skellinefju, ok þar var hún fædd. Brá henni um vísdóm til móður sinnar. Hún tók Angrvaðil eftir Þorstein, föður sinn. Ok er margt ágætra manna frá Þorsteini komit. Þótti öllum mönnum Þorsteinn vera inn frægasti maðr ok inn ágætasti af þeim mönnum, sem honum váru samtíðis.

Lúkum vér hér nú sögu Þorsteins Víkingssonar með þessu efni, ok er in gamansamligasta.

Now we must return to Jokul, Njorfe’s son, who ruled the uplands after the death of Njorfe and Viking. They had preserved their friendship well until their death. Jokul won ships and fee, and was a daring viking, treating his soldiers fairly well, but no better. A few years passed in such a manner that he was the most noted viking, harrying the most of the time in the waters of the Baltic. Thorstein and Bele had not been at home long before they busked themselves for harrying expeditions, and sailing first down along the coast of the country, then through the summer, and got a great booty, consisting of gold and silver, and many other costly things. Afterward they intended to sail home, which they did, and having reached the mouth of Lim Fjord, they were overtaken by a violent storm, which carried them out into the sea, and in a short time the ships were separated. Then the sea began to break over the ships from both sides, and all the men were engaged in baling out the water. And it came to pass that this storm drove the dragon Ellide, tossed by the waves, ashore alone at Borgund’s Holm. At the same time Jokul also landed there with ten ships, all thoroughly equipped both as to weapons and crews. And now, as might be imagined, Jokul attacked Thorstein and his men. Thorstein was poorly prepared, for he and his crew were very much exhausted from hard work, and from being tossed about on the sea. A severe and bloody battle was fought, and Jokul, being very vehement, kept cheering his men on, telling them that they would never have a better chance to conquer Thorstein; and, said he, it will be an everlasting shame upon us if he escapes now. Then they attacked Thorstein and his men, not letting up until all his men had fallen, so that nobody but Thorstein alone remained standing on the dragon; but still he defended himself bravely, so that for a long time they could not give him a single wound. At last, however, it came to pass that they came so near to him that they could stab him with their spears; but the most of them he cut out of his reach, for the sword Angervadil bit as keenly as ever. Then Jokul made a desperate attack, and stabbed Thorstein with his spear through the thigh. At the same moment Thorstein dealt Jokul a blow, hitting his arm below the elbow, and cutting the hand off. Meanwhile they succeeded in surrounding Thorstein with shields and capturing him. But it was near night, so that they thought it was too late to put him to death, and so fetters were put on his feet, his hands were tied with a bow-string, and twelve men were set to watch him during the night. When all had been brought ashore excepting these twelve men, together with Thorstein, he said: Which do you prefer, that you amuse me, or that I amuse you? They said that he could not care much for amusement now, as he was to die immediately on the morrow. Now Thorstein, finding himself in close quarters, conceived a plan of escaping, and in a low, whispering voice he said: At what other time could I need you more than just now, my dear fellow Sindre, had not all our friendship already been broken off? Then darkness came upon the watch-men, and they fell asleep. Thorstein saw Sindre going along the ship, approaching him, and saying: You are in close quarters, my dear fellow Thorstein, and it certainly is high time to help you. He blew open the lock, then he cut the bow-string off from his hands; and Thorstein, who thus had become free, now seized his sword, for he knew where he had left it, and, turning against the watchmen, he killed them all. Hereupon, Sindre disappeared, but Thorstein took a boat and rowed ashore, and went home to Sogn. This meeting with Bele was a very happy one, and to the latter it seemed as if he had recovered Thorstein from the domains of Hel (death). Early the next morning (after the battle) Jokul awoke, happy in the thought that he was about to take the prisoner and kill him; but when they came to the place where they had left him, the prisoner was gone, and the watchmen dead. This was to them a very great loss. Jokul turned his prows homeward, greatly dissatisfied with his voyage, having lost Thorstein, and received scars that could never be healed. Henceforth he was called Jokul the One-handed. The foster-brothers, king Bele and Thorstein, gathered an army and went to the uplands, sending a message to Jokul, and preparing a battle-field for him. Jokul gathered men, although, on account of their friendship with Thorstein, many of his subjects sat at home, and thus, getting only a few, he durst not engage in battle, but fled out of his land, and went to Valland to his brother-in-law, Vilhjalm. The latter gave him a third part of his kingdom to rule. King Bele and Thorstein conquered the uplands, whereupon they returned home and kept quiet. Some time later there came men from Valland to meet Thorstein. They had been sent out by Jokul. Their errand was to offer Thorstein, in the name of Jokul, terms of peace. They were to have a meeting in Lim Fjord, to which both should come with three ships each, and there they should settle their dispute. Thorstein was very much pleased with this offer, confessing that it was contrary to his wish that he had had troubles with Jokul, saying that he had entered into them unwillingly on Njorfe’s account, and on account of the latter’s friendship with Viking. Now this was agreed upon. The ambassadors returned home, but in the summer time Thorstein busked himself for going abroad taking with him Ellide and two other ships. To Bele this voyage did not seem a hopeful one, for he looked upon Jokul as a treacherous and faithless man. He advised Thorstein to send spies ahead, and find out whether every-thing was done faithfully on Jokul’s part, and having found this out, they should return and meet him in the Sound. They did so, and came back, reporting that Jokul and his part were lying at anchor in Lim Fjord, and keeping perfectly quiet. So they proceeded on their voyage till they reached the fjord. Here they held a meeting in the place agreed upon, and came to mutually satisfactory terms, on the conditions that the loss of men, the wounds and the blows, should be considered even on both sides, but Jokul should get his kingdom back, and not be tributary to anybody. Thorstein’s kingdom in the uplands should fall to Jokul’s lot, in compensation for the loss of his hand. On these conditions they were to be fully reconciled. Then Jokul went home to his kingdom, and kept quiet. Thorstein and Bele went home to Sogn, settled in their kingdoms, and made an end to all warfares. Ingeborg, Thorstein’s wife, had already died, and Ingeborg, Bele’s daughter, had her name. Fridthjof grew up with his father. Thorstein had a daughter who hight Vefreyja, who at this point of our saga had reached the age of maturity, for she was begotten in the cave of Skellinefja, and there she was born too. In wisdom she was like her mother. She got Angervadil after the death of her father, Thorstein, and many excellent men are descended from him. By all, Thorstein was considered the most distinguished and most excellent man of him time. With these contents, we now finish the saga of Thorstein, Viking’s son, and it is a most amusing one.  
   
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SCHOLARSHIP & COMMENTARY
Medieval Scandinavia: An Encyclopedia, 1993: "One of the more fantastic fornaldarsögur."

"The hero of this saga is the father of the protagonist in Friðþjófs saga ins frækna, which was most certainly known to the author of þórsteinns saga.
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"The structure of Þorsteins saga with its genealogical introduction and plot spanning more than one generation, resembles the Íslendingsasögur more than the fornaldarsögur. So does the main action of the saga, in which the heroes are driven by their desire for revenge rather than their desire and quest for a princess, which  forms the plot of many other younger fornaldarsögur and the numerous riddarsögur. Nevertheless its familarity with Friðþjófs saga, and the numerous imaginative motifs included especially in the first part of the saga, betray the work as a late fornaldarsaga that draws on ancient heroic matter. Among the many fairy-tale motifs that Þorsteins saga has in common with many late 14th century Icelandic texts are magical weapons, the talking ship Elliði, shapechangers, sorcerers, and a helpful dwarf. "

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