The Saga of Grettir the Strong (Penguin Classics) by Thorsson Örnólfur

Author:Thorsson, Örnólfur [Thorsson, Örnólfur]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9780141937922
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2005-05-25T16:00:00+00:00

38.

In wether fjord Odin’s weapons wether fjord: Hrutafjord (= Rams’ fjord)

stormed the bear-hugging Odin’s storm of weapons: battle

giant’s adversary, the ox giant’s adversary: Thor; Thor + bjorn

mustered its full force. (bear): Thorbjorn

Now for Atli’s slaying, long

unavenged after he slumped

to the fair earth,

he is repaid in kind.

Asdis said this was true, ‘But I do not know what action you can take now.’

Grettir said he would seek out his friends and kinsmen in the west.

‘I won’t be causing you any trouble,’ he told her.

He made ready to leave and he and his mother parted with affection. He went to Melar in Hrutafjord first and told his brother-in-law Gamli all about the killing of Thorbjorn.

Gamli told him to hurry out of Hrutafjord – ‘while Thorbjorn’s kinsmen still have their band of men together. We’ll give you as much support as we can in the settlement for Atli’s killing.’

After that, Grettir rode westwards over Laxardal moor, not stopping until he reached Thorstein Kuggason’s farm at Ljarskogar, where he stayed for much of the autumn.

49| Thorodd Half-poem asked around to find out who had killed Thorbjorn and his son. When he and his men came to Reykir, they were told that Grettir had turned up there and announced that he was responsible for the killings. Thorodd thought he could tell what had happened and went to Bjarg. A large number of people were gathered there and he asked whether Grettir was among them.

Asdis said he had ridden away and that she would not hide him ‘if he were here anyway. You ought to be pleased to drop the matter. But what happened was not too heavy a vengeance for Atli’s death. You never asked whether I suffered for that. Now it is fitting to let things stand as they are.’

Then they rode back home, unable to see what more could be done.

The spear that Grettir had lost was not found for a long time, until the days that people still alive today can remember. It was found towards the end of Sturla Thordarson the Lawspeaker’s life, in the marshland where Thorbjorn was killed, which is now known as Spjotsmyri (Spear-mire). This is taken as proof that Thorbjorn was killed there, although some accounts say that he was killed in Midfitjar.58

Thorbjorn’s kinsmen received word that Grettir was at Ljarskogar, then gathered forces and set off there. But Gamli noticed them from Melar and tipped off Thorstein and Grettir about the party that was leaving Hrutafjord.

When Thorstein heard this he sent Grettir to Tunga to stay with Snorri the Godi,59 because they were on speaking terms at the time.

He told Grettir he should ask Snorri for help, but go west to Thorgils Arason at Reykjaholar if he refused: ‘He’ll take you in for the winter. Stay in the West Fjords until these matters are settled.’

Grettir said he would follow his advice. He rode over to Tunga, met Snorri the Godi and asked him to take him in.

‘I am growing old now and have no inclination to take in outlaws if I am not compelled to,’ Snorri answered.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.