The Story of Burnt Njal: The Great Icelandic Tribune, Jurist, and Counsellor

join his brother-in-law King Knut the Great in England, leaving the government of Norway in the hands of Hak

should be able to come into the country and challenge respectable people to the holmgang for their money or their women, no weregild being paid whichever fell. Many had lost their money and been put to shame in this way; some indeed had lost their lives.

's fury, and nothing escaped that was before them. They used to carry off men's wives, keep them for a week or two and then send them back. Wherever they came they committed robberies and other acts of

a, and the government of Norway was left in

on the mainland, whither he had invited a number of his friends. He could not take his wife with him, because their grown-up daughter was lying sick, so they both had to s

r their drinking-bouts. The bondi's daughter was then better and could go out with her mother. So the day passed. At last Grettir noticed a ship rowing up to the island, not large, covered with shields amidships and painted abov

n they brought their own boat into the boat-house. It was very evident to Grettir that they did not mean to wait for an invitation, so he went up to them, and greeting them in a friendly way asked who they were and who was their captain. The

s gone from home with all his freedmen and will not be back until after Yule. The goodwife is at home with her daughter, and if I

not happened as I said it would? I should not be sorry to punish Thorfinn for having got us outlaw

id Grettir. "If you will come home with me

and and led him into the hall. He was very talkative. The mistress was in the hall decorating it and putting all in

. They are the bondi Thorir Paunch and his followers, and have come, all twelve of them,

pay a large portion of my property for them not to have come just at this time. It is an ill return that you make

ff the wet clothes from your guests instead of casting re

thing by your husband being away, for you shall have a man in

Grettir. "The women shall be qui

to the berserks: "Give me all the things which you want to lay aside, your weapo

aid, "we mean to treat you in a different way from the other men

said Grettir. "But I do no

: "I think now you had better sit down at the table and

lingly agreed to. So Grettir went and fetched some ale which he gave them to drink. They were very tired and drank enormously. He kept them well plied with the strongest al

ho treated me like this man. What reward shall

till as good friends as we seem to be now, I should very much like to join your company, and though I m

for," he added, "there is truth in the saying that Ale is another man, and such a thing should not be d

ey were rather fuddled, and asked whether they did not think it was time to go to bed. Thorir said: "So it is; but I have to fulfi

The berserks then left the room. Grettir said: "Let us go outsid

ich was raised above the ground and had to be reached by steps. The berserks then began skylarking and pushing Grettir about. He fell down the in steps, as if in sport, and in a moment was out of the house, had pulled the bolt, slammed the door to, and

sking where the mistress was. She was silent, being afraid to answer. He said: "He

; "but I don't know for wh

ards; but now let each do what

horfinn's bed there hangs the great halberd which belonged to Kar the Old; there, too, is a he

out. The mistress called to her men and bade them follow their brave champion

d found it locked. They strained at the woodwork till every timber groaned. At last they tore down the wooden partition and so

r passed right up to the hook, came out at his back between the shoulderblades and entered the breast of Ogmund. They both fell dead, pierced by the spear. Then all the others dashed down as they reached the steps. Grettir tackled them each in turn, no

e attack directly the berserks were running away; when these turned against them they fell back on the house. Six of the ruffians fell, all slain by Grettir's own hand; the other six then fl

ht was very dark. They ran to Vindheim, the place spoken of before, and took refuge in a barn, where they fought for a long time until at last Grettir killed them. By this time he was terribly stiff and exhausted. The night was far spent; it was very cold and there were driving snow-storms. He felt little inclin

ave saved me and my household from a disgrace n

as I was last evening when you sp

n the house shall be yours, so far as it is fitting for me to bestow and right for you t

"But I accept your offer until your husband returns. I think now t

erserks who had escaped. They were found at the end of the day lying under a rock, both dead from cold and from their wounds; they were carried away and buried in a place on the shore beneath the

ing sea the tw

my hand but s

t deed that is

as worthy if this

now living." She set him in the high seat and gave him the