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THE STORY OF VIGA-GLUM
CHAPTER I
THERE was a man called Ingiald, who lived at Thverá,
on the Eyjafirth; he was one of the original priests and a great chief,
and he was already in years when this story begins. 1 Ingiald was married,
and had two sons, Steinolf and Eyiolf, both right good men and fair to
see. Ingiald himself was self-willed, reserved, hard to deal with, and
obstinate. He cared little for merchants, and did not choose to submit
to their arrogance. If he wanted anything from them, he preferred sending
other people for it to going himself.
One summer a ship came
into Eyjafirth, the master of which was named Hreidar: he was a man of
great family, who had his home at Vorz in Norway, and was very courageous
and very popular. Ingiald’s son, Eyiolf, was often about the ship in the
course of the summer, and he and Hreidar became great friends. Hreidar
told him he should like to pass the winter here in some house, and from
the report he had heard he should prefer that of Ingiald. Eyiolf said
that such was not his father’s wont, but still that he would see about
it. When he came home, he spoke to his father and asked him to take the
master of the ship into his house--that he was a good, worthy fellow--and
pleaded strongly in his behalf. Ingiald replied, "If you have invited
him already, what is the use of talking about it? I must bear my part
in meeting the expense, and you must bear yours in taking all the trouble;"
but he added that he had never had a foreigner staying with him before
and that he was still not desirous of doing so. Then Eyiolf answered,
"It has not yet been settled without your consent; but I have not had
much share in the management of the house as yet, and it seems your will
that I should not have much, if a guest is not to be received whom I have
invited hither." "Well," said Ingiald, "you shall have your own way in
this matter, and the master and one other man may come here. I shall make
no charge, for your sake; but you must take all the trouble for them,
and I will defray the cost." "I am well pleased," replied Eyiolf, "that
so it should be."
Eyiolf went the next day,
found Hreidar, and told him how matters stood, whereupon Hreidar expressed
his satisfaction and betook himself, with his cargo, to Ingiald’s house.
A short time afterwards he learned that there was to be a great gathering
there at Christmas. In the meantime Ingiald, though reserved, was on good
terms with him.
One day Hreidar asked
Ingiald to go into the outhouse where his cargo was; and when he went
he invited him to choose whatever he liked out of his goods. Ingiald said
that he did not wish to take any of his property, but acknowledged his
liberality. Hreidar replied, "I have, however, thought of something that
you may want from us. I have been in several of the best dwellings here
in Eyjafirth, and I have seen none so good as this; but the hangings for
your hall are not such as to surpass those of other people." So saying,
he took from his chests a set of hangings of such quality that no better
had ever come to Iceland, and gave them to Ingiald, who thanked him; and
a friendly feeling was now established between them. In the course of
the winter Eyiolf said that he should like to sail with Hreidar on his
outward voyage, but Hreidar did not answer him very readily. "Why," says
Eyiolf, "will you not take me with you? Do you not like me?" "I like you
right well, but your father will not approve of such a return for his
hospitality, and I should not like to repay his kindness by taking away
a son who is such a credit to him. If he approves, I shall willingly take
you with me, and be truly thankful for your going."
Now the traders prepared
for their voyage, and when they were ready, Eyiolf again asked Hreidar
about taking him out: he told him what he wanted, and how he did not mean
to act in this matter against his father’s wishes. Afterwards, he told
his father how anxious he was to go, and what had passed between himself
and Hreidar. Ingiald said there were few such mean as Hreidar to be found,
"and what with your own conduct and his tried worth, I shall allow you
to go, for I am sure you had better make the voyage with him than with
any one else."
Footnotes
1 It might have
been better to keep the Icelandic term "Godi" in the text; for the civil
duties of this functionary were more important than his priestly office.
"One of the original priests" means one of the holders of a "Godord,"
or "Mannaforrad," from the time of the settlement of the island at the
close of the ninths centry. On the nature of the Godi’s office, se Mr.
Dasent’s Preface to the Nial’s Saga, p. xlvi., and Maurer’s "Enstehung
des Isländischen Staats und seiner Verfassung" (München, 1852), ss. 82,
83, 89, etc. Compare also the subsequent note on the judicial proceedings.
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Chapter I
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