Автор литература - Njal's Saga

is not to be found far or near,” and the king offered to get

Gunnar a wife, and to raise him to great power if he would settle

down there.

Gunnar thanked the king for his offer and said, “I will first of

all sail back to Iceland to see my friends and kinsfolk.”

“Then thou wilt never come back to us,” says the king.

“Fate will settle that, lord,” says Gunnar.

Gunnar gave the king a good longship, and much goods besides,

and the king gave him a robe of honour, and golden-seamed gloves,

and a fillet with a knot of gold on it, and a Russian hat.

Then Gunnar fared north to Hisingen. Oliver welcomed him with

both hands, and he gave back to Oliver his ships, with their

lading, and said that was his share of the spoil. Oliver took

the goods, and said Gunnar was a good man and true, and bade him

stay with him some while. Hallvard asked Gunnar if he had a mind

to go to see Earl Hacon. Gunnar said that was near his heart,

“for now I am somewhat proved, but then I was not tried at all

when thou badest me do this before.”

After that they fared north to Drontheim to see Earl Hacon, and

he gave Gunnar a hearty welcome, and bade him stay with him that

winter, and Gunnar took that offer, and every man thought him a

man of great worth. At Yule the Earl gave him a gold ring.

Gunnar set his heart on Bergliota, the Earl’s kinswoman, and it

was often to be seen from the Earl’s way, that he would have

given her to him to wife if Gunnar had said anything about that.

32. GUNNAR COMES OUT TO ICELAND

When the spring came, the Earl asks Gunnar what course he meant

to take. He said he would go to Iceland. The Earl said that had

been a bad year for grain, “and there will be little sailing out

to Iceland, but still thou shalt have meal and timber both in thy

ship.”

Gunnar fitted out his ship as early as he could, and Hallvard

fared out with him and Kolskegg. They came out early in the

summer, and made Arnbael’s Oyce before the Thing met.

Gunnar rode home from the ship, but got men to strip her and lay

her up. But when they came home all men were glad to see them.

They were blithe and merry to their household, nor had their

haughtiness grown while they were away.

Gunnar asks if Njal were at home; and he was told that he was at

home; then he let them saddle his horse, and those brothers rode

over to Bergthorsknoll.

Njal was glad at their coming, and begged them to stay there that

night, and Gunnar told him of his voyages.

Njal said he was a man of the greatest mark, “and thou hast been

much proved; but still thou wilt be more tried hereafter; for

many will envy thee.”

“With all men I would wish to stand well,” says Gunnar.

“Much bad will happen,” said Njal, “and thou wilt always have

some quarrel to ward off.”

“So be it, then,” says Gunnar, “so that I have a good ground on

my side.”

“So will it be too,” says NjaI, “if thou hast not to smart for

others.”

Njal asked Gunnar if he would ride to the Thing. Gunnar said he

was going to ride thither, and asks Njal whether he were going to

ride; but he said he would not ride thither, “and if I had my

will thou wouldst do the like.”

Gunnar rode home, and gave Njal good gifts, and thanked him for

the care he had taken of his goods. Kolskegg urged him on much

to ride to the Thing, saying, “There thy honour will grow, for

many will flock to see thee there.”

“That has been little to my mind,” says Gunnar, “to make a show

of myself; but I think it good and right to meet good and worthy

men.”

Hallvard by this time was also come thither, and offered to ride

to the thing with them.

33. GUNNAR’S WOOING

So Gunnar rode, and they all rode. But when they came to the

Thing they were so well arrayed that none could match them in

bravery; and men came out of every booth to wonder at them.

Gunnar rode to the booths of the men of Rangriver, and was there

with his kinsmen. Many men came to see Gunnar, and ask tidings

of him; and he was easy and merry to all men, and told them all

they wished to hear.

It happened one day that Gunnar went away from the Hill of Laws,

and passed by the booths of the men from Mossfell; then he saw a

woman coming to meet him, and she was in goodly attire; but when

they met she spoke to Gunnar at once. He took her greeting well,

and asks what woman she might be. She told him her name was

Hallgerda, and said she was Hauskuld’s daughter, Dalakoll’s son.

She spoke up boldly to him, and bade him tell her of his voyages;

but he said he would not gainsay her a talk. Then they sat them

down and talked. She was so clad that she had on a red kirtle,

and had thrown over her a scarlet cloak trimmed with needlework

down to the waist. Her hair came down to her bosom, and was both

fair and full. Gunnar was clad in the scarlet clothes which King

Harold Gorm’s son had given him; he had also the gold ring on his

arm which Earl Hacon had given him.

So they talked long out loud, and at last it came about that he

asked whether she were unmarried. She said, so it was, “and

there are not many who would run the risk of that.”

“Thinkest thou none good enough for thee?”

“Not that,” she says, “but I am said to be hard to please in

husbands.”

“How wouldst thou answer, were I to ask for thee?”

“That cannot be in thy mind,” she says.

“It is though,” says he.

“If thou hast any mind that way, go and see my father.”

After that they broke off their talk.

Gunnar went straightway to the Dalesmen’s booths, and met a man

outside the doorway, and asks whether Hauskuld were inside the

booth?

The man says that he was. Then Gunnar went in, and Hauskuld and

Hrut made him welcome. He sat down between them, and no one

could find out from their talk that there had ever been any

misunderstanding between them. At last Gunnar’s speech turned

thither; how these brothers would answer if he asked for

Hallgerda?

“Well,” says Hauskuld, “if that is indeed thy mind.”

Gunnar says that he is in earnest, “but we so parted last time,

that many would think it unlikely that we should ever be bound

together.”

“How thinkest thou, kinsman Hrut?” says Hauskuld.

Hrut answered, “Methinks this is no even match.”

“How dost thou make that out?” says Gunnar.

Hrut spoke, “In this wise will I answer thee about this matter,

as is the very truth. Thou art a brisk brave man well to do, and

unblemished; but she is much mixed up with ill report, and I will

not cheat thee in anything.”

“Good go with thee for thy words,” says Gunnar, “but still I

shall hold that for true, that the old feud weighs with ye, if ye

will not let me make this match.”

“Not so,” says Hrut, “‘t is more because I see that thou art

unable to help thyself; but though we make no bargain, we would

still be thy friends.”

“I have talked to her about it,” says Gunnar, “and it is not far

from her mind.”

Hrut says, “I know that you have both set your hearts on this

match; and, besides, ye two are those who run the most risk as to

how it turns out.”

Hrut told Gunnar unasked all about Hallgerda’s temper, and Gunnar

at first thought that there was more than enough that was