Chapter XXIII: Part II (2)

N['u] l['i]dhr dagrinn; ok er menn skyldu fara til svefns, vildi Grettir eigi fara af klaedhum, ok lagdhiz nidhr ['i] setit gegnt lokrekkju b['o]nda. Hann hafdhi r[o,]ggvarfeld yfir s['e]r, ok knepti annat skautit nidhr undir foetr s['e]r, en annat snaradhi hann undir h[o,]fudh s['e]r, ok s['a] ['u]t um h[o,]fudhsm['a]ttina. Setstokkr var fyrir framan setit, mj[o,]k sterkr, ok spyrndi hann thar ['i]. Dyraumb['u]ningrinn allr var fr['a] brotinn ['u]tidyrunum, en n['u] var thar fyrir bundinn hurdharflaki, ok ['o]vendiliga um b['u]it. Thverthilit var allt brotit fr['a] sk['a]lanum, that sem thar fyrir framan hafdhi verit, baedhi fyrir ofan thvertr['e]it ok nedhan. Saengr allar v['a]ru ['o]r stadh foerdhar. Heldr var thar ['o]vistuligt. Lj['o]s brann ['i] sk['a]lanum um n['o]ttina. Ok er af mundi thridhjungr af n['o]tt, heyrdhi Grettir ['u]t dynur miklar. Var th['a] farit upp ['a] h['u]sin, ok ridhit sk['a]lanum ok barit haelunum, sv['a] at brakadhi ['i] hverju tr['e]. Thvi gekk lengi; th['a] var farit ofan af h['u]sunum ok til dyra gengit. Ok er upp var lokit hurdhunni, s['a] Grettir, at thraellinn r['e]tti inn h[o,]fudhit, ok s['y]ndiz honum afskraemiliga mikit ok undarliga st['o]rskorit. Gl['a]mr f['o]r seint ok r['e]ttiz upp, er hann kom inn ['i] dyrnar; hann gnaefadhi ofarliga vidh raefrinu; sn['y]r at sk['a]lanum ok lagdhi handleggina upp ['a] thvertr['e]it, ok gaegdhiz inn yfir sk['a]lann. Ekki l['e]t b['o]ndi heyra til s['i]n, thv['i]at honum th['o]tti oerit um, er hann heyrdhi, hvat um var ['u]ti. Grettir l['a] kyrr ok hroerdhi sik hvergi. Gl['a]mr s['a], at hr['u]ga n[o,]kkur l['a] ['i] setinu, ok r['e]z n['u] innar eptir sk['a]lanum ok threif ['i] feldinn stundarfast. Grettir spyrndi ['i] stokkinn, ok gekk thv['i] hvergi. Gl['a]mr hnykti ['i] annat sinn miklu fastara, ok bifadhiz hvergi feldrinn. ['I] thridhja sinn threif hann ['i] medh b['a]dhum h[o,]ndum sv['a] fast, at hann r['e]tti Gretti upp ['o]r setinu; kiptu n['u] ['i] sundr feldinum ['i] millum s['i]n. Gl['a]mr leit ['a] slitrit, er hann helt ['a], ok undradhiz mj[o,]k, hverr sv['a], fast mundi togaz vidh hann. Ok ['i] thv['i] hlj['o]p Grettir undir hendr honum, ok threif um hann midhjan, ok spenti ['a] honum hrygginn sem fastast gat hann, ok aetladhi hann, at Gl['a]mr skyldi kikna vidh. En thraellinn lagdhi at handleggjum Grettis sv['a] fast, at hann h[o,]rfadhi allr fyrir orku sakir. F['o]r Grettir th['a] undan ['i] ['y]ms setin. Gengu th['a] fr['a] stokkarnir, ok allt brotnadhi, that sem fyrir vardh. Vildi {155} Gl['a]mr leita ['u]t, en Grettir foerdhi vidh foetr, hvar sem hann m['a]tti. En th['o] gat Gl['a]mr dregit hann fram ['o]r sk['a]lanum. ['A]ttu their th['a] allhardha s['o]kn thv['i]at thraellinn aetladhi at koma honum ['u]t ['o]r boenum; en sv['a] illt sem var at eiga vidh Gl['a]m inni, th['a] s['a] Grettir, at th['o] var verra, at f['a]z vidh hann ['u]ti; ok thv['i] brauz hann ['i] m['o]ti af [o,]llu afli at fara ['u]t. Gl['a]mr foerdhiz ['i] aukana, ok knepti hann at s['e]r, er their k['o]mu ['i] anddyrit. Ok er Grettir s['e]r, at hann fekk eigi vidh spornat, hefir hann allt eitt atridhit, at hann hleypr sem hardhast ['i] fang thraelnum ok spyrnir b['a]dhum f['o]tum ['i] jardhfastan stein, er stodh ['i] dyrunum. Vidh thessu bj['o]z thraellinn eigi; hann hafdhi th['a] togaz vidh at draga Gretti at s['e]r; ok thv['i] kiknadhi Gl['a]mr ['a] bak aptr, ok rauk [o,]fugr ['u]t ['a] dyrnar, sv['a] at herdharnar n['a]mu uppdyrit, ok raefrit gekk ['i] sundr, baedhi vidhirnir ok thekjan frerin; fell hann sv['a] opinn ok [o,]fugr ['u]t ['o]r h['u]sunum, en Grettir ['a] hann ofan. Tunglskin var mikit ['u]ti ok gluggathykkn; hratt stundum fyrir, en stundum dr['o] fr['a]. N['u] ['i] thv['i], er Gl['a]mr fell, rak sk['y]it fr['a] tunglinu, en Gl['a]mr hvesti augun upp ['i] m['o]ti. Ok sv['a], hefir Grettir sagt sj['a]lfr, at th['a] eina s['y]n hafi hann s['e]t sv['a], at honum brygdhi vidh. Th['a] sigadhi sv['a] at honum af [o,]llu saman, moedhi ok thv['i], er hann s['a] at Gl['a]mr gaut s['i]num sj['o]num hardhliga, at hann gat eigi brugdhit saxinu, ok l['a] n['a]liga ['i] milli heims ok heljar. En thv['i] var meiri ['o]fagnadharkraptr medh Gl['a]mi en flestum [o,]dhrum aptrg[o,]ngum[o,]nnum, at hann maelti th['a] ['a] thessa leidh: "Mikit kapp hefir th['u] ['a] lagit, Grettir," sagdhi hann, "at finna mik. En that mun eigi undarligt thykkja, th['o]at th['u] hlj['o]tir ekki mikit happ af m['e]r. En that m['a] ek segja th['e]r, at th['u] hefir n['u] fengit helming afls thess ok throska, er th['e]r var aetladhr, ef th['u] hefdhir mik ekki fundit. N['u] fae ek that afl eigi af th['e]r tekit, er th['u] hefir ['a]dhr hrept; en thv['i] m['a] ek r['a]dha, at th['u] verdhr aldri sterkari en n['u] ertu, ok ertu th['o] n['o]gu sterkr, ok at thv['i] mun m[o,]rgum verdha. Th['u] hefir fraegr ordhit h['e]r til af verkum th['i]num; en hedhan af munu falla til th['i]n sektir ok v['i]gaferli, en flest [o,]ll verk th['i]n sn['u]az th['e]r til ['o]gaefu ok hamingjuleysis. Th['u] munt verdha ['u]tlaegr g[o,]rr, ok hlj['o]ta jafnan ['u]ti at b['u]a einn samt. Th['a] legg ek that ['a] vidh thik, at thessi augu s['e] th['e]r jafnan fyrir sj['o]num, sem ek ber eptir; ok mun th['e]r erfitt thykkja, einum at vera; ok that mun th['e]r til daudha draga."

Ok sem thraellinn hafdhi thetta maelt, th['a] rann af Gretti ['o]megin, {156} that sem ['a] honum hafdhi verit. Br['a] hann th['a] saxinu ok hj['o] h[o,]fudh af Gl['a]mi ok setti that vidh thj['o] honum. B['o]ndi kom th['a] ['u]t, ok hafdhi klaez, ['a] medhan Gl['a]mr l['e]t ganga t[o,]luna; en hvergi thordhi hann naer at koma, fyrr en Gl['a]mr var fallinn. Th['o]rhallr lofadhi gudh fyrir, ok thakkadhi vel Gretti, er hann hafdhi unnit thenna ['o]hreina anda. F['o]ru their th['a] til, ok brendu Gl['a]m at k[o,]ldum kolum. Eptir that [b['a]ru their [o,]sku hans ['i] eina h['i]t ok] gr['o]fu thar nidhr, sem s['i]zt v['a]ru fj['a]rhagar edha mannavegir. Gengu heim eptir that, ok var th['a] mj[o,]k komit at degi. Lagdhiz Grettir nidhr, thv['i]at hann var stirdhr mj[o,]k. Th['o]rhallr sendi menn ['a] naestu boei eptir m[o,]nnum; s['y]ndi ok sagdhi, hversu farit hafdhi. [O,]llum th['o]tti mikils um vert um thetta verk, theim er heyrdhu. Var that th['a] almaelt, at engi vaeri thv['i]l['i]kr madhr ['a] [o,]llu landinu fyrir afls sakir ok hreysti ok allrar atgervi, sem Grettir ['A]smundarson.

Th['o]rhallr leysti Gretti vel af gardhi ok gaf honum g['o]dhan hest ok klaedhi soemilig, thv['i][at] thau v['a]ru [o,]ll sundr leyst, er hann hafdhi ['a]dhr borit. Skildu their medh vin['a]ttu. Reidh Grettir thadhan ['i] ['A]s ['i] Vatnsdal, ok t['o]k Thorvaldr vidh honum vel ok spurdhi inniliga at sameign theira Gl['a]ms; en Grettir segir honum vidhskipti theira, ok kvaz aldri ['i] thv['i]l['i]ka aflraun komit hafa, sv['a] langa vidhreign sem their h[o,]fdhu saman ['a]tt.

Thorvaldr badh hann hafa sik spakan, "ok mun th['a] vel duga, en ella mun th['e]r slysgjarnt verdha."

Grettir kvadh ekki batnat hafa um lyndisbragdhit, ok sagdhiz n['u] miklu verr stiltr en ['a]dhr, ok allar m['o]tgerdhir verri thykkja. ['A] thv['i] fann hann mikla muni, at hann var ordhinn madhr sv['a] myrkfaelinn, at hann thordhi hvergi at fara einn saman, thegar myrkva t['o]k. S['y]ndiz honum th['a] hvers kyns skr['i]pi; ok that er haft s['i]dhan fyrir ordhtoeki, at theim lj['a]i Gl['a]mr augna edhr gefi gl['a]ms['y]ni, er mj[o,]k s['y]niz annan veg, en er. Grettir reidh heim til Bjargs, er hann hafdhi g[o,]rt oerendi s['i]n, ok sat heima um vetrinn.

(_b_) _Sandhaugar episode_ (caps. 64-66)

Steinn h['e]t prestr, er bj['o] at Eyjardals['a] ['i] B['a]rdhardal. Hann var b['u]thegn g['o]dhr ok r['i]kr at f['e]. Kjartan h['e]t son hans, r[o,]skr madhr ok vel ['a] legg kominn. Thorsteinn hv['i]ti h['e]t madhr, er {157} bj['o] at Sandhaugum, sudhr fr['a] Eyjardals['a]. Steinv[o,]r h['e]t kona hans, ung ok gladhl['a]t. Thau ['a]ttu b[o,]rn, ok v['a]ru thau ung ['i] thenna t['i]ma. Thar th['o]tti m[o,]nnum reimt mj[o,]k sakir tr[o,]llagangs. That bar til, tveim vetrum fyrr en Grettir kom nordhr ['i] sveitir, at Steinv[o,]r h['u]sfreyja at Sandhaugum f['o]r til j['o]lat['i]dha til Eyjardals['a]r eptir vana, en b['o]ndi var heima. L[o,]gdhuz menn nidhr til svefns um kveldit; ok um n['o]ttina heyrdhu menn brak mikit ['i] sk['a]lann, ok til saengr b['o]nda. Engi thordhi upp at standa at forvitnaz um, thv['i]at thar var f['a]ment mj[o,]k. H['u]sfreyja kom heim um morguninn, ok var b['o]ndi horfinn, ok vissi engi, hvat af honum var ordhit. Lidhu sv['a] hin naestu misseri. En annan vetr eptir, vildi h['u]sfreyja fara til t['i]dha; badh hon h['u]skarl sinn heima vera. Hann var tregr til; en badh hana r['a]dha. F['o]r thar allt ['a] s[o,]mu leidh, sem fyrr, at h['u]skarl var horfinn. Thetta th['o]tti m[o,]nnum undarligt. S['a]u menn th['a] bl['o]dhdrefjar n[o,]kkurar ['i] ['u]tidyrum. Th['o]ttuz menn that vita, at ['o]vaettir mundu hafa tekit th['a] b['a]dha. Thetta fr['e]ttiz v['i]dha um sveitir. Grettir hafdhi spurn af thessu. Ok medh thv['i] at honum var mj[o,]k lagit at koma af reimleikum edha aptrg[o,]ngum, th['a] gerdhi hann ferdh s['i]na til B['a]rdhardals, ok kom atfangadag j['o]la til Sandha[u]ga. Hann duldiz ok nefndiz Gestr. H['u]sfreyja s['a], at hann var furdhu mikill vexti, en heimaf['o]lk var furdhu hraett vidh hann. Hann beiddiz thar gistingar. H['u]sfreyja kvadh honum mat til reidhu, "en ['a]byrgz thik sj['a]lfr."

Hann kvadh sv['a] vera skyldu. "Mun ek vera heima," segir hann, "en th['u] far til t['i]dha, ef th['u] vilt."

Hon svarar: "M['e]r thykkir th['u] hraustr, ef th['u] thorir heima at vera."

"Eigi laet ek m['e]r at einu getit," sagdhi hann.

"Illt thykkir m['e]r heima at vera," segir hon, "en ekki komumz ek yfir ['a]na."

"Ek skal fylgja th['e]r yfir," segir Gestr.

S['i]dhan bj['o]z hon til tidha, ok d['o]ttir hennar medh henni, l['i]til vexti. Hl['a]ka mikil var ['u]ti, ok ['a]in ['i] leysingum; var ['a] henni jakaf[o,]r.

Th['a] maelti h['u]sfreyja: "['O]foert er yfir ['a]na, baedhi m[o,]nnum ok hestum."

"V[o,]dh munu ['a] vera," kvadh Gestr; "ok veridh eigi hraeddar." {158}

"Ber th['u] fyrst meyna," kvadh h['u]sfreyja, "hon er l['e]ttari."

"Ekki nenni ek at gera tvaer ferdhir at thessu," segir Gestr, "ok mun ek bera thik ['a] handlegg m['e]r."

Hon signdi sik ok maelti: "Thetta er ['o]foera; edha hvat gerir th['u] th['a] af meyjunni?"

"Sj['a] mun ek r['a]dh til thess," segir hann; ok greip thaer upp b['a]dhar ok setti hina yngri ['i] kn['e] m['o]dhur sinnar, ok bar thaer sv['a] ['a] vinstra armlegg s['e]r; en hafdhi lausa hina hoegri h[o,]nd ok ['o]dh sv['a], ['u]t ['a] vadhit. Eigi thordhu thaer at oepa, sv['a] v['a]ru thaer hraeddar. En ['a]in skall thegar upp ['a] brj['o]sti honum. Th['a] rak at honum jaka mikinn; en hann skaut vidh hendi theiri, er laus var, ok hratt fr['a] s['e]r. Gerdhi th['a] sv['a] dj['u]pt, at strauminn braut ['a] [o,]xlinni. ['O]dh hann sterkliga, thar til er hann kom at bakkanum [o,]dhrum megin, ok fleygir theim ['a] land. S['i]dhan sneri hann aptr, ok var th['a] h['a]lfroekkvit, er hann kom heim til Sandhauga; ok kalladhi til matar. Ok er hann var mettr, badh hann heimaf['o]lk fara innar ['i] stofu. Hann t['o]k th['a] bordh ok lausa vidhu, ok rak um thvera stofuna, ok gerdhi b['a]lk mikinn, sv['a] at engi heimamadhr komz fram yfir. Engi thordhi ['i] m['o]ti honum at maela, ok ['i] engum skyldi kretta. Gengit var ['i] hlidhvegginn stofunnar inn vidh gaflhladhit; ok thar thverpallr hj['a]. Thar lagdhiz Gestr nidhr ok f['o]r ekki af klaedhunum. Lj['o]s brann ['i] stofunni gegnt dyrum. Liggr Gestr sv['a] fram ['a] n['o]ttina.

H['u]sfreyja kom til Eyjardals['a]r til t['i]dha, ok undrudhu menn um ferdhir hennar yfir ['a]na. Hon sagdhiz eigi vita, hv['a]rt hana hefdhi yfir flutt madhr edha tr[o,]ll. Prestr kvadh mann v['i]st vera mundu, th['o]at f['a]rra maki s['e]; "ok l['a]tum hlj['o]tt yfir," sagdhi hann; "m['a] vera, at hann s['e] aetladhr til at vinna b['o]t ['a] vandraedhum th['i]num." Var h['u]sfreyja thar um n['o]ttina.

N['u] er fr['a] Gretti that at segja, at th['a] er dr['o] at midhri n['o]tt, heyrdhi hann ['u]t dynur miklar. Thv['i]naest kom inn ['i] stofuna tr[o,]llkona mikil. Hon hafdhi ['i] hendi trog, en annarri sk['a]lm, heldr mikla. Hon litaz um, er hon kom inn, ok s['a], hvar Gestr l['a], ok hlj['o]p at honum, en hann upp ['i] m['o]ti, ok r['e]dhuz ['a] grimmliga ok s['o]ttuz lengi ['i] stofunni. Hon var sterkari, en hann f['o]r undan koenliga. En allt that, sem fyrir theim vardh, brutu thau, jafnvel thverthilit undan stofunni. Hon dr['o] hann fram yfir dyrnar, ok sv['a] ['i] anddyrit; thar t['o]k hann fast ['i] m['o]ti. Hon {159} vildi draga hann ['u]t ['o]r boenum, en that vardh eigi fyrr en thau leystu fr['a] allan ['u]tidyraumb['u]ninginn ok b['a]ru hann ['u]t ['a] herdhum s['e]r. Thoefdhi hon th['a] ofan til ['a]rinnar ok allt fram at glj['u]frum. Th['a] var Gestr ['a]kafliga m['o]dhr, en th['o] vardh annathv['a]rt at gera: at herdha sik, ella mundi hon steypa honum ['i] glj['u]frin. Alla n['o]ttina s['o]ttuz thau. Eigi th['o]ttiz hann hafa fengiz vidh thv['i]l['i]kan ['o]fagnadh fyrir afls sakir. Hon hafdhi haldit honum sv['a] fast at s['e]r, at hann m['a]tti hv['a]rigri hendi taka til n[o,]kkurs, ['u]tan hann helt um hana midhja k[ett]una. Ok er thau k['o]mu ['a] ['a]rgljufrit, bregdhr hann flagdhkonunni til sveiflu. ['I] thv['i] vardh honum laus hin hoegri h[o,]ndin. Hann threif th['a] skj['o]tt til saxins, er hann var gyrdhr medh, ok bregdhr thv['i]; hoeggr th['a] ['a] [o,]xl tr[o,]llinu, sv['a] at af t['o]k h[o,]ndina hoegri, ok sv['a], vardh hann lauss. En hon steyptiz ['i] glj['u]frin ok sv['a] ['i] fossinn. Gestr var th['a] baedhi stirdhr ok m['o]dhr, ok l['a] thar lengi ['a] hamrinum. Gekk hann th['a] heim, er l['y]sa t['o]k, ok lagdhiz ['i] rekkju. Hann var allr thr['u]tinn ok bl['a]r.

Ok er h['u]sfreyja kom fr['a] t['i]dhum, th['o]tti henni heldr raskat um h['y]b['y]li s['i]n. Gekk hon th['a] til Gests ok spurdhi, hvat til hefdhi borit, er allt var brotit ok boelt. Hann sagdhi allt, sem farit hafdhi. Henni th['o]tti mikils um vert, ok spurdhi, hverr hann var. Hann sagdhi th['a] til hit sanna, ok badh soekja prest ok kvaz vildu finna hann. Var ok sv['a] g[o,]rt. En er Steinn prestr kom til Sandhauga, vardh hann br['a]tt thess v['i]ss, at thar var kominn Grettir ['A]smundarson, er Gestr nefndiz. Prestr spurdhi, hvat hann aetladhi af theim m[o,]nnum mundi vera ordhit, er thar h[o,]fdhu horfit. Grettir kvaz aetla, at ['i] glj['u]frin mundu their hafa horfit. Prestr kvaz eigi kunna at leggja tr['u]nadh ['a] sagnir hans, ef engi merki maetti til sj['a]. Grettir segir, at s['i]fdhar vissi their that goerr. F['o]r prestr heim. Grettir l['a] ['i] rekkju margar naetr. H['u]sfreyja gerdhi vidh hann hardhla vel; ok leidh sv['a] af j['o]lin. Thetta er s[o,]gn Grettis, at tr[o,]llkonan steypdhiz ['i] glj['u]frin vidh, er hon fekk s['a]rit; en B['a]rdhardalsmenn segja, at hana dagadhi uppi, th['a] er thau gl['i]mdu, ok spryngi, th['a] er hann hj['o] af henni h[o,]ndina, ok standi thar enn ['i] konu l['i]king ['a] bjarginu. Their dalb['u]arnir leyndu thar Gretti.

Um vetrinn eptir j['o]l var that einn dag, at Grettir f['o]r til Eyjardals['a]r. Ok er their Grettir funduz ok prestr, maelti Grettir: "S['e] ek that, prestr," segir hann, "at th['u] leggr l['i]tinn {160} tr['u]nadh ['a] sagnir m['i]nar. N['u] vil ek at th['u] farir medh m['e]r til ['a]rinnar, ok sj['a]ir, hver l['i]kendi th['e]r thykkir ['a] vera."

Prestr gerdhi sv['a]. En er their k['o]mu til fossins, s['a]u their sk['u]ta upp undir bergit; that var meitilberg sv['a] mikit, at hvergi m['a]tti upp komaz, ok naer t['i]u fadhma ofan at vatninu. Their h[o,]fdhu festi medh s['e]r.

Th['a] maelti prestr: "Langt um ['o]foert s['y]niz m['e]r th['e]r nidhr at fara."

Grettir svarar: "Foert er v['i]st; en theim mun bezt thar, sem ['a]gaetismenn eru. Mun ek forvitnaz, hvat ['i] fossinum er, en th['u] skalt geyma festar."

Prestr badh hann r['a]dha, ok keyrdhi nidhr hael ['a] berginu, ok bar at grj['o]t, [ok sat thar hj['a]].

N['u] er fr['a] Gretti at segja, at hann l['e]t stein ['i] festaraugat ok l['e]t sv['a] s['i]ga ofan at vatninu.

"Hvern veg aetlar th['u] n['u]," segir prestr, "at fara?"

"Ekki vil ek vera bundinn," segir Grettir, "th['a] er ek kem ['i] fossinn; sv['a] bodhar m['e]r hugr um."

Eptir that bj['o] hann sik til ferdhar, ok var f['a]klaeddr, ok gyrdhi sik medh saxinu, en hafdhi ekki fleiri v['a]pn. S['i]dhan hlj['o]p hann af bjarginu ok nidhr ['i] fossinn. S['a] prestr ['i] iljar honum, ok vissi s['i]dhan aldri, hvat af honum vardh. Grettir kafadhi undir fossinn, ok var that torvelt, thv['i]at idha var mikil, ok vardh hann allt til grunns at kafa, ['a]dhr en hann koemiz upp undir fossinn. Thar var forberg n[o,]kkut, ok komz hann inn thar upp ['a]. Thar var hellir mikill undir fossinum, ok fell ['a]in fram af berginu. Gekk hann th['a] inn ['i] hellinn, ok var thar eldr mikill ['a] br[o,]ndum. Grettir s['a], at thar sat j[o,]tunn [o,]gurliga mikill; hann var hraedhiligr at sj['a]. En er Grettir kom at honum, hlj['o]p j[o,]tunninn upp ok greip flein einn ok hj['o] til thess, er kominn var, thv['i]at baedhi m['a]tti h[o,]ggva ok leggja medh [honum]. Tr['e]skapt var ['i]; that k[o,]lludhu menn th['a] heptisax, er thannveg var g[o,]rt. Grettir hj['o] ['a] m['o]ti medh saxinu, ok kom ['a] skaptit, sv['a] at ['i] sundr t['o]k. J[o,]tunninn vildi th['a] seilaz ['a] bak s['e]r aptr til sverdhs, er thar hekk ['i] hellinum. ['I] thv['i] hj['o] Grettir framan ['a] brj['o]stit, sv['a] at n['a]liga t['o]k af alla bringspelina ok kvidhinn, sv['a] at idhrin steyptuz ['o]r honum ofan ['i] ['a]na, ok keyrdhi thau ofan eptir ['a]nni. Ok er prestr sat vidh festina, s['a] hann, at slydhrur n[o,]kkurar rak ofan eptir strengnum bl['o]dhugar {161} allar. Hann vardh th['a] lauss ['a] velli, ok th['o]ttiz n['u] vita, at Grettir mundi daudhr vera. Hlj['o]p hann th['a] fr['a] festarhaldinu ok f['o]r heim. Var th['a] komit at kveldi, ok sagdhi prestr v['i]sliga, at Grettir vaeri daudhr; ok sagdhi, at mikill skadhi vaeri eptir thv['i]l['i]kan mann.

N['u] er fr['a] Gretti at segja; hann l['e]t skamt h[o,]ggva ['i] milli, thar til er j[o,]tunninn d['o]. Gekk Grettir th['a] innar eptir hellinum. Hann kveikti lj['o]s ok kannadhi hellinn. Ekki er fr['a] thv['i] sagt, hversu mikit f['e] hann fekk ['i] hellinum; en that aetla menn, at verit hafi n[o,]kkut. Dvaldiz honum thar fram ['a] n['o]ttina. Hann fann thar tveggja manna bein, ok bar thau ['i] belg einn. Leitadhi hann th['a] ['o]r hellinum ok lagdhiz til festarinnar, ok hristi hana, ok aetladhi, at prestr mundi thar vera. En er hann vissi, at prestr var heim farinn, vardh hann th['a] at handstyrkja upp festina, ok komz hann sv['a] upp ['a] bjargit. F['o]r hann th['a] heim til Eyjardals['a]r ok kom ['i] forkirkju belginum theim, sem beinin v['a]ru ['i], ok thar medh r['u]nakefli thv['i], er v['i]sur thessar v['a]ru forkunnliga vel ['a] ristnar:

"Gekk ek ['i] glj['u]fr et d[o,]kkva
gein veltiflug steina,
vith hj[o,]rgaethi hr['i]thar
hlunns ['u]rsv[o,]lum munni,
fast l['a] framm ['a] brj['o]sti
flugstraumr ['i] sal naumu
heldr kom ['a] herthar sk['a]ldi
h[o,]rth fj['o]n Braga kv['o]nar."

Ok en thessi:

"Lj['o]tr kom m['e]r ['i] m['o]ti
mellu vinr ['o]r helli;
hann fekz, heldr at s[o,]nnu
harthfengr, vith mik lengi;
hartheggjat l['e]t ek h[o,]ggvit
heptisax af skepti;
Gangs klauf brj['o]st ok bringu
bjartr gunnlogi svarta[298]."

{162}

Thar sagdhi sv['a], at Grettir hafi bein thessi ['o]r hellinum haft. En er prestr kom til kirkju um morgininn, fann hann keflit ok that sem fylgdi, ok las r['u]narnar. En Grettir hafdhi farit heim til Sandhauga.

En th['a] er prestr fann Gretti, spurdhi hann inniliga eptir atburdhum; en hann sagdhi alla s[o,]gu um ferdh s['i]na, ok kvadh prest ['o]tr['u]liga hafa haldit festinni. Prestr l['e]t that ['a] sannaz. Th['o]ttuz menn that vita, at thessar ['o]vaettir mundu valdit hafa mannahv[o,]rfum thar ['i] dalnum. Vardh ok aldri mein af aptrg[o,]ngum edha reimleikum thar ['i] dalnum s['i]dhan. Th['o]tti Grettir thar g[o,]rt hafa mikla landhreinsan. Prestr jardhadhi bein thessi ['i] kirkjugardhi.

TRANSLATION OF EXTRACTS FROM GRETTIS SAGA

The _Grettis saga_ was first printed in the middle of the eighteenth
century, in Iceland (Marc['u]sson, _Nockrer Marg-frooder Sogu-thatter_,
1756, pp. 81-163). It was edited by Magn['u]sson and Thordarson,
Copenhagen, 1853, with a Danish translation, and again by Boer
(_Altnordische Saga-bibliothek_, Halle, 1900). An edition was also
printed at Reykjavik in 1900, edited by V. ['A]smundarson.

There are over forty MSS of the saga: _Cod. Arn. Mag. 551 a_ (quoted in
the notes below as A) forms the basis of all three modern editions.
Boer has investigated the relationship of the MSS (_Die
handschriftliche ueberlieferung der Grettissaga, Z.f.d.Ph._ XXXI,
40-60), and has published, in an appendix to his edition, the readings
of five of the more important, in so far as he considers that they can
be utilized to amend the text supplied by A.

The reader who consults the editions of both Magn['u]sson and Boer will
be struck by the differences in the text, although both are following
the same MS. Many of these differences are, of course, due to the fact
that the editors are normalizing the spelling, but on different
principles: many others, however, are due to the extraordinary
difficulty of the MS itself. Mr Sigf['u]s Bloendal, of the Royal
Library of Copenhagen, has examined _Cod. Arn. Mag. 551 a_ for me, and
he writes:

"It is the very worst MS I have ever met with. The writing is
small, almost every word is abbreviated, and, worst of all, the
writing is in many places effaced, partly by smoke (I suppose the
MS needs must have been lying for years in some smoky and damp
_badhstofa_) rendering the parchment almost as black as
shoe-leather, but still more owing to the use of chemicals, which
modern editors have been obliged to use, to make sure of what there
really was in the text. By the use of much patience and a lens, one
can read it, though, in most places. Unfortunately, this does not
apply to the _Gl['a]mur_ episode, a big portion of which belongs to
the very worst part of the MS, and the readings of that portion are
therefore rather uncertain."

The Icelandic text given above agrees in the main with that in the
excellent edition of Boer, to whom, in common with all students of the
{163} _Grettis saga_, I am much indebted: but I have frequently adopted
in preference a spelling or wording nearer to that of Magn['u]sson. In
several of these instances (notably the spelling of the verses
attributed to Grettir) I think Prof. Boer would probably himself agree.

The words or letters placed between square brackets are those which are
not to be found in _Cod. Arn. Mag. 551 a_.

To Mr Bloendal, who has been at the labour of collating with the MS,
for my benefit, both the passages given above, my grateful thanks are
due.

There are English translations of the _Grettis saga_ by Morris and E.
Magn['u]sson (1869, and in Morris' _Works_, 1911, vol. VII) and by G.
A. Hight (_Everyman's Library_, 1914).

For a discussion of the relationship of the _Grettis saga_ to other
stories, see also Boer, _Zur Grettissaga_, in _Z.f.d.Ph._ XXX, 1-71.

(_a_) _Glam episode_ (p. 146 above)

There was a man called Thorhall, who lived at Thorhall's Farm in Shadow-dale. Shadow-dale runs up from Water-dale. Thorhall was son of Grim, son of Thorhall, son of Frithmund, who settled Shadow-dale. Thorhall's wife was called Guthrun: their son was Grim, and Thurith their daughter--they were grown up.

[Sidenote: p. 147]

Thorhall was a wealthy man, and especially in cattle, so that no man had as much live stock as he. He was not a chief, yet a substantial yeoman. The place was much haunted, and he found it hard to get a shepherd to suit him. He sought counsel of many wise men, what device he should follow, but he got no counsel which was of use to him. Thorhall rode each summer to the All-Thing; he had good horses. That was one summer at the All-Thing, that Thorhall went to the booth of Skapti Thoroddsson, the Law-man.

Skapti was the wisest of men, and gave good advice if he was asked. There was this difference between Skapti and his father Thorodd: Thorodd had second sight, and some men called him underhanded; but Skapti gave to every man that advice which he believed would avail, if it were kept to: so he was called 'Better than his father.' Thorhall went to the booth of Skapti. Skapti greeted Thorhall well, for he knew that he was a prosperous man, and asked what news he had.

Thorhall said, "I should like good counsel from thee." "I am little use at that," said Skapti. "But what is thy need?" {164}

Thorhall said, "It happens so, that it is difficult for me to keep my shepherds: they easily get hurt, and some will not serve their time. And now no one will take on the task, who knows what is before him."

Skapti answered, "There must be some evil being about, if men are more unwilling to look after thy sheep than those of other folk. Now because thou hast sought counsel of me, I will find thee a shepherd, who is named Glam, a Swede, from Sylgsdale, who came out to Iceland last summer. He is great and strong, but not much to everybody's taste."

Thorhall said that he would not mind that, if he guarded the sheep well. Skapti said that if Glam had not the strength and courage to do that, there was no hope of anyone else. Then Thorhall went out; this was when the All-Thing was nearly ending.

Thorhall missed two light bay horses, and he went himself to look for them--so it seems that he was not a great man. He went up under Sledge-hill and south along the mountain called Armannsfell.

Then he saw where a man came down from Gothashaw, bearing faggots on a horse. They soon met, and Thorhall asked him his name, and he said he was called Glam. Glam [Sidenote: p. 148] was tall and strange in bearing, with blue[299] and glaring eyes, and wolf-grey hair. Thorhall opened his eyes when he saw him, but yet he discerned that this was he to whom he had been sent.

"What work art thou best fitted for?" said Thorhall.

Glam said he was well fitted to watch sheep in the winter.

"Wilt thou watch my sheep?" said Thorhall. "Skapti gave thee into my hand."

"You will have least trouble with me in your house if I go my own way, for I am hard of temper if I am not pleased," said Glam.

"That will not matter to me," said Thorhall, "and I wish that thou shouldst go to my house."

"That may I well do," said Glam, "but are there any difficulties?"

{165}

"It is thought to be haunted," said Thorhall.

"I am not afraid of such phantoms," said Glam, "and it seems to me all the less dull."

"Thou wilt need such a spirit," said Thorhall, "and it is better that the man there should not be a coward."

After that they struck their bargain, and Glam was to come at the winter-nights [14th-16th of October]. Then they parted, and Thorhall found his horses where he had just been searching. Thorhall rode home and thanked Skapti for his good deed.

Summer passed, and Thorhall heard nothing of his shepherd, and no one knew anything of him; but at the time appointed he came to Thorhall's Farm. The yeoman greeted him well, but all the others could not abide him, and Thorhall's wife least of all. Glam undertook the watching of the sheep, and it gave him little trouble. He had a great deep voice, and the sheep came together as soon as he called them. There was a church at Thorhall's Farm, but Glam would not go to it. He would have nothing to do with the service, and was godless; he was obstinate and surly and abhorred by all.

Now time went on till it came to Yule eve. Then Glam rose early and called for meat. The yeoman's wife answered, "That is not the custom of Christian men to eat meat today, because tomorrow is the first day of Yule," said she, "and therefore it is right that we should first fast today."

He answered, "Ye have many superstitions which I see are good for nothing. I do not know that men fare better now [Sidenote: p. 149] than before, when they had nought to do with such things. It seemed to me a better way when men were called heathen; and I want my meat and no tricks."

The yeoman's wife said, "I know for a certainty that it will fare ill with thee today, if thou dost this evil thing."

Glam bade her bring the meat at once, else he said it should be worse for her. She dared not do otherwise than he willed, and when he had eaten he went out, foul-mouthed.

Now it had gone so with the weather that it was heavy all round, and snow-flakes were falling, and it was blowing loud, and grew much worse as the day went on. The shepherd {166} was heard early in the day, but less later. Then wind began to drive the snow, and towards evening it became a tempest. Then men came to the service, and so it went on to nightfall. Glam did not come home. Then there was talk whether search ought not to be made for him, but because there was a tempest and it was pitch dark, no search was attempted. That Yule night he did not come home, and so men waited till after the service [next, i.e. Christmas, morning]. But when it was full day, men went to search, and found the sheep scattered in the snow-drifts[300], battered by the tempest, or strayed up into the mountains. Then they came on a great space beaten down, high up in the valley. It looked to them as if there had been somewhat violent wrestling there, because the stones had been torn up for a distance around, and the earth likewise. They looked closely and saw where Glam lay a little distance away. He was dead, and blue like Hel and swollen like an ox. They had great loathing of him, and their souls shuddered at him. Nevertheless they strove to bring him to the church, but they could get him no further than the edge of a ravine a little below, and they went home leaving matters so, and told the yeoman what had happened. He asked what appeared to have been the death of Glam. They said that, from the trodden spot, up to a place beneath the rocks high in the valley, they had tracked marks as big as if a cask-bottom had been stamped down, and great drops of blood with them. So men concluded from this, that the evil thing which had been there before must have killed Glam, but Glam must have done it damage which had been enough, in that nought has ever happened since from that evil thing.

The second day of Yule it was again essayed to bring Glam to the church.

Beasts of draught were harnessed, but they could not move him where it was level ground and not down hill, so they departed, leaving matters so.

The third day the priest went with them, and they searched [Sidenote: p. 150] all day, but Glam could not be found. The priest would go no {167} more, but Glam was found when the priest was not in the company. Then they gave up trying to carry him to the church, and buried him where he was, under a cairn.

A little later men became aware that Glam was not lying quiet. Great harm came to men from this, so that many fell into a swoon when they saw him, and some could not keep their wits. Just after Yule, men thought they saw him at home at the farm. They were exceedingly afraid, and many fled away. Thereupon Glam took to riding the house-roofs at nights, so that he nearly broke them in. He walked almost night and day. Men hardly dared to go up into the dale, even though they had business enough. Men in that country-side thought great harm of this.

In the spring Thorhall got farm-hands together and set up house on his land. Then the apparition began to grow less frequent whilst the sun's course was at its height; and so it went on till midsummer. That summer a ship came out to Hunawater. On it was a man called Thorgaut. He was an outlander by race, big and powerful; he had the strength of two men. He was in no man's service, and alone, and he wished to take up some work, since he had no money. Thorhall rode to the ship, and met Thorgaut. He asked him if he would work for him. Thorgaut said that might well be, and that he would make no difficulties.

"But thou must be prepared," said Thorhall, "that it is no place for weaklings, by reason of the hauntings which have been going on for a while, for I will not let thee into a trap."

Thorgaut answered, "It does not seem to me that I am undone, even though I were to see some little ghosts. It must be no easy matter for others if I am frightened, and I will not give up my place for that."

So now they agreed well, and Thorgaut was to watch the sheep when winter came.

Now the summer passed on. Thorgaut took charge of the sheep at the winter-nights. He was well-pleasing to all. Glam ever came home and rode on the roofs. Thorgaut thought it sporting, and said that the thrall would have to come nearer {168} in order to scare him. But Thorhall bade him keep quiet: "It is best that ye should not try your strength together." Thorgaut said, "Verily, your courage is shaken out of you: I shall not drop down with fear between day and night over such talk."

Now things went on through the winter up to Yule-tide. On Yule evening the shepherd went out to his sheep. Then [Sidenote: p. 151] the yeoman's wife said, "It is to be hoped that now things will not go in the old way."

He answered, "Be not afraid of that, mistress; something worth telling will have happened if I do not come back."

Then he went to his sheep. The weather was cold, and it snowed much. Thorgaut was wont to come home when it was twilight, but now he did not come at that time. Men came to the service, as was the custom. It seemed to people that things were going as they had before. The yeoman wished to have search made for the shepherd, but the church-goers excused themselves, and said they would not risk themselves out in the hands of the trolls by night. And the yeoman did not dare to go, so the search came to nothing.

On Yule-day, when men had eaten, they went and searched for the shepherd. They went first to Glam's cairn, because men thought that the shepherd's disappearance must have been through his bringing-about. But when they came near the cairn they saw great things, for there they found the shepherd with his neck broken and not a bone in him whole. Then they carried him to the church, and no harm happened to any man from Thorgaut afterwards; but Glam began to increase in strength anew. He did so much that all men fled away from Thorhall's Farm, except only the yeoman and his wife.

Now the same cattle-herd had been there a long time. Thorhall would not let him go, because of his good-will and good service. He was far gone in age and was very unwilling to leave: he saw that everything went to waste which the yeoman had, if no one looked after it. And once after mid-winter it happened one morning that the yeoman's wife went to the byre to milk the cows as usual. It was quite light, because no one dared to go out before, except the cattle-herd: he went {169} out as soon as it dawned. She heard great cracking in the byre and a hideous bellowing. She ran back, crying out, and said she did not know what devilry was going on in the byre.

The yeoman went out, and came to the cattle, and they were goring each other. It seemed to him no good to stay there, and he went further into the hay-barn. He saw where the cattle-herd lay, and he had his head in one stall and his feet in the next. He lay on his back. The yeoman went to him and felt him. He soon found that he was dead, and his back-bone broken in two; it had been broken over the partition slab.

Now it seemed no longer bearable to Thorhall, and he left his farm with all that he could carry away; but all the live-stock [Sidenote: p. 152] left behind Glam killed. After that he went through all the dale and laid waste all the farms up from Tongue. Thorhall spent what was left of the winter with his friends. No man could go up into the dale with horse or hound, because it was slain forthwith. But when spring came, and the course of the sun was highest, the apparitions abated somewhat. Now Thorhall wished to go back to his land. It was not easy for him to get servants, but still he set up house at Thorhall's Farm.

All went the same way as before. When autumn came on the hauntings began to increase. The yeoman's daughter was most attacked, and it fared so that she died. Many counsels were taken, but nothing was done. Things seemed to men to be looking as if all Water-dale must be laid waste, unless some remedies could be found.

Now the story must be taken up about Grettir, how he sat at home at Bjarg that autumn, after he had parted from Barthi-of-the-Slayings at Thorey's Peak. And when it had almost come to the winter-nights, Grettir rode from home, north over the neck to Willow-dale, and was a guest at Authun's Farm. He was fully reconciled to Authun, and gave him a good axe, and they spake of their wish for friendship one with the other. (Authun dwelt long at Authun's Farm, and much goodly offspring had he. Egil was his son, who wedded Ulfheith, daughter of Eyjolf Guthmundson; and their son was Eyjolf, who was slain at the All-Thing. He was father of Orm, chaplain to {170} Bishop Thorlak.) Grettir rode north to Water-dale and came on a visit to Tongue. At that time Jokul Barthson lived there, Grettir's uncle. Jokul was a man great and strong and very proud. He was a seafaring man, and very over-bearing, yet of great account. He received Grettir well, and Grettir was there three nights.

There was so much said about the apparitions of Glam that nothing was spoken of by men equally with that. Grettir inquired exactly about the events which had happened. Jokul said that nothing more had been spoken than had verily occurred. "But art thou anxious, kinsman, to go there?"

Grettir said that that was the truth. Jokul begged him not to do so, "For that is a great risk of thy luck, and thy kinsmen have much at stake where thou art," said he, "for none of the young men seems to us to be equal to thee; but ill will come of ill where Glam is, and it is much better to have to do with mortal men than with evil creatures like that."

Grettir said he was minded to go to Thorhall's Farm and [Sidenote: p. 153] see how things had fared there. Jokul said, "I see now that it is of no avail to stop thee, but true it is what men say, that good-luck is one thing, and goodliness another."

"Woe is before one man's door when it is come into another's house. Think how it may fare with thee thyself before the end," said Grettir.

Jokul answered, "It may be that both of us can see somewhat into the future, but neither can do aught in the matter."

After that they parted, and neither was pleased with the other's foreboding.

Grettir rode to Thorhall's Farm, and the yeoman greeted him well. He asked whither Grettir meant to go, but Grettir said he would stay there over the night if the yeoman would have it so. Thorhall said he owed him thanks for being there, "But few men find it a profit to stay here for any time. Thou must have heard what the dealings are here, and I would fain that thou shouldst have no troubles on my account; but though thou shouldst come whole away, I know for certain that thou {171} wilt lose thy steed, for no one who comes here keeps his horse whole."

Grettir said there were plenty of horses, whatever should become of this one.

Thorhall was glad that Grettir would stay there, and welcomed him exceedingly.

Grettir's horse was strongly locked in an out-house. They went to sleep, and so the night passed without Glam coming home. Then Thorhall said, "Things have taken a good turn against thy coming, for every night Glam has been wont to ride the roofs or break up the doors, even as thou canst see."

Grettir said, "Then must one of two things happen. Either he will not long hold himself in, or the wonted haunting will cease for more than one night. I will stay here another night and see how it goes."

Then they went to Grettir's horse, and he had not been attacked. Then everything seemed to the yeoman to be going one way. Now Grettir stayed for another night, and the thrall did not come home. Then things seemed to the yeoman to be taking a very hopeful turn. He went to look after Grettir's horse. When he came there, the stable was broken into, and the horse dragged out to the door, and every bone in him broken asunder.

Thorhall told Grettir what had happened, and bade him save his own life--"For thy death is sure if thou waitest for Glam."

Grettir answered, "The least I must have in exchange for my horse is to see the thrall."

The yeoman said that there was no good in seeing him: [Sidenote: p. 154] "For he is unlike any shape of man; but every hour that thou wilt stay here seems good to me."

Now the day went on, and when bed-time came Grettir would not put off his clothes, but lay down in the seat over against the yeoman's sleeping-chamber. He had a shaggy cloak over him, and wrapped one corner of it down under his feet, and twisted the other under his head and looked out through the head-opening. There was a great and strong partition beam in front of the seat, and he put his feet against it. The {172} doorframe was all broken away from the outer door, but now boards, fastened together carelessly anyhow, had been tied in front. The panelling which had been in front was all broken away from the hall, both above and below the cross-beam; the beds were all torn out of their places, and everything was very wretched[301].

A light burned in the hall during the night: and when a third part of the night was past, Grettir heard a great noise outside. Some creature had mounted upon the buildings and was riding upon the hall and beating it with its heels, so that it cracked in every rafter. This went on a long time. Then the creature came down from the buildings and went to the door. When the door was opened Grettir saw that the thrall had stretched in his head, and it seemed to him monstrously great and wonderfully huge. Glam went slowly and stretched himself up when he came inside the door. He towered up to the roof. He turned and laid his arm upon the cross-beam and glared in upon the hall. The yeoman did not let himself be heard, because the noise he heard outside seemed to him enough. Grettir lay quiet and did not move.

Glam saw that a heap lay upon the seat, and he stalked in up the hall and gripped the cloak wondrous fast. Grettir pressed his feet against the post and gave not at all. Glam pulled a second time much more violently, and the cloak did not move. A third time he gripped with both hands so mightily that he pulled Grettir up from the seat, and now the cloak was torn asunder between them.

Glam gazed at the portion which he held, and wondered much who could have pulled so hard against him; and at that moment Grettir leapt under his arms and grasped him round {173} the middle, and bent his back as mightily as he could, reckoning that Glam would sink to his knees at his attack. But the thrall laid such a grip on Grettir's arm that he recoiled at the might of it. Then Grettir gave way from one seat to another. The beams[302] started, and all that came in their way was broken. [Sidenote: p. 155] Glam wished to get out, but Grettir set his feet against any support he could find; nevertheless Glam dragged him forward out of the hall. And there they had a sore wrestling, in that the thrall meant to drag him right out of the building; but ill as it was to have to do with Glam inside, Grettir saw that it would be yet worse without, and so he struggled with all his might against going out. Glam put forth all his strength, and dragged Grettir towards himself when they came to the porch. And when Grettir saw that he could not resist, then all at once he flung himself against the breast of the thrall, as powerfully as he could, and pressed forward with both his feet against a stone which stood fast in the earth at the entrance. The thrall was not ready for this, he had been pulling to drag Grettir towards himself; and thereupon he stumbled on his back out of doors, so that his shoulders smote against the cross-piece of the door, and the roof clave asunder, both wood and frozen thatch. So Glam fell backwards out of the house and Grettir on top of him. There was bright moonshine and broken clouds without. At times they drifted in front of the moon and at times away. Now at the moment when Glam fell, the clouds cleared from before the moon, and Glam rolled up his eyes; and Grettir himself has said that that was the one sight he had seen which struck fear into him. Then such a sinking came over Grettir, from his weariness and from that sight of Glam rolling his eyes, that he had no strength to draw his knife and lay almost between life and death.

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But in this was there more power for evil in Glam than in most other apparitions, in that he spake thus: "Much eagerness hast thou shown, Grettir," said he, "to meet with me. But no wonder will it seem if thou hast no good luck from me. And this can I tell thee, that thou hast now achieved one half of the power and might which was fated for thee if thou hadst not met with me. Now no power have I to take that might from thee to which thou hast attained. But in this may I have my way, that thou shalt never become stronger than now thou art, and yet art thou strong enough, as many a one shall find to his cost. Famous hast thou been till now for thy deeds, but from now on shall exiles and manslaughters fall to thy lot, and almost all of thy labours shall turn to ill-luck and unhappiness. Thou shalt be outlawed and doomed ever to dwell alone, away from men; and then lay I this fate on thee, that these eyes of mine be ever before thy sight, and it shall seem grievous unto thee to be alone, and that shall drag thee to thy death."

And when the thrall had said this, the swoon which had [Sidenote: p. 156] fallen upon Grettir passed from him. Then he drew his sword and smote off Glam's head, and placed it by his thigh.

Then the yeoman came out: he had clad himself whilst Glam was uttering his curse, but he dare in no wise come near before Glam had fallen. Thorhall praised God for it, and thanked Grettir well for having vanquished the unclean spirit.

Then they set to work and burned Glam to cold cinders. After, they put the ashes in a skin-bag and buried them as far as possible from the ways of man or beast. After that they went home, and by that time it was well on to day. Grettir lay down, for he was very stiff. Thorhall sent people to the next farm for men, and showed to them what had happened. To all those who heard of it, it seemed a work of great account; and that was then spoken by all, that no man in all the land was equal to Grettir Asmundarson for might and valour and all prowess. Thorhall sent Grettir from his house with honour, and gave him a good horse and fit clothing; for all the clothes which he had worn before were torn asunder. They parted great friends. Grettir rode thence to Ridge in Water-dale, and Thorvald greeted him well, and asked closely as to his meeting {175} with Glam. Grettir told him of their dealings, and said that never had he had such a trial of strength, so long a struggle had theirs been together.

Thorvald bade him keep quiet, "and then all will be well, otherwise there are bound to be troubles for thee."

Grettir said that his temper had not bettered, and that he was now more unruly than before, and all offences seemed worse to him. And in that he found a great difference, that he had become so afraid of the dark that he did not dare to go anywhere alone after night had fallen. All kinds of horrors appeared to him then. And that has since passed into a proverb, that Glam gives eyes, or gives "glam-sight" to those to whom things seem quite other than they are. Grettir rode home to Bjarg when he had done his errand, and remained at home during the winter.

(_b_) _Sandhaugar episode_ (p. 156 above)

There was a priest called Stein who lived at Eyjardals['a] (Isledale River) in Barthardal. He was a good husbandman and rich in cattle. His son was Kjartan, a doughty man and well grown. There was a man called Thorstein the White who [Sidenote: p. 157] lived at Sandhaugar (Sandheaps), south of Isledale river; his wife was called Steinvor, and she was young and merry. They had children, who were young then.

People thought the place was much haunted by reason of the visitation of trolls. It happened, two winters before Grettir came North into those districts, that the good-wife Steinvor at Sandhaugar went to a Christmas service, according to her custom, at Isledale river, but her husband remained at home. In the evening men went to bed, and during the night they heard a great rummage in the hall, and by the good-man's bed. No one dared to get up to look to it, because there were very few men about. The good-wife came home in the morning, but her husband had vanished, and no one knew what had become of him.

The next year passed away. But the winter after, the good-wife wished again to go to the church-service, and she bade her {176} manservant remain at home. He was unwilling, but said she must have her own way. All went in the same manner as before, and the servant vanished. People thought that strange. They saw some splashes of blood on the outer door, and men thought that evil beings must have taken away both the good-man and the servant.

The news of this spread wide throughout the country. Grettir heard of it; and because it was his fortune to get rid of hauntings and spirit-walkings, he took his way to Barthardal, and came to Sandhaugar on Yule eve. He disguised himself[303], and said his name was Guest. The good-wife saw that he was great of stature; and the farm-folk were much afraid of him. He asked for quarters for the night. The good-wife said that he could have meat forthwith, but "You must look after your own safety."

He said it should be so. "I will be at home," said he, "and you can go to the service if you will."

She answered, "You are a brave man, it seems to me, if you dare to remain at home."

"I do not care to have things all one way[304]," said he.

"It seems ill to me to be at home," said she, "but I cannot get over the river."

"I will see you over," said Guest.

Then she got ready to go to the service, and her small daughter with her. It was thawing, the river was in flood, and there were ice-floes in it. Then the good-wife said, "It is impossible for man or horse to get across the river."

"There must be fords in it," said Guest, "do not be afraid."

[Sidenote: p. 158]

"Do you carry the child first," said the good-wife, "she is the lighter."

"I do not care to make two journeys of it," said Guest, "and I will carry thee on my arm."

She crossed herself and said, "That is an impossible way; what will you do with the child?"

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"I will see a way for that," said he; and then he took them both up, and set the child on her mother's knee and so bore them both on his left arm. But he had his right hand free, and thus he waded out into the ford.

They did not dare to cry out, so much afraid were they. The river washed at once up against his breast; then it tossed a great icefloe against him, but he put out the hand that was free and pushed it from him. Then it grew so deep that the river dashed over his shoulder; but he waded stoutly on, until he came to the bank on the other side, and threw Steinvor and her daughter on the land.