Автор литература - Njal's Saga

Njal. “Thou wilt ride to the Thing, and thou wilt abide by my

counsel and get the greatest honour from this matter. This will

be the beginning of thy manslayings.”

“But give me some cunning counsel,” says Gunnar.

“I will do that,” says Njal, “never slay more than one man in the

same stock, and never break the peace which good men and true

make between thee and others, and least of all in such a matter

as this.”

Gunnar said, “I should have thought there was more risk of that

with others than with me.”

“Like enough,” says Njal, “but still thou shalt so think of thy

quarrels, that if that should come to pass of which I have warned

thee, then thou wilt have but a little while to live; but

otherwise, thou wilt come to be an old man.”

Gunnar said, “Dost thou know what will be thine own death?”

“I know it,” says Njal.

“What?” asks Gunnar.

“That,” says Njal, “which all would be the last to think.”

After that Gunnar rode home.

A man was sent to Gizur the White and Geir the Priest, for they

had the blood-feud after Otkell. Then they had a meeting, and

had a talk about what was to be done; and they were of one mind

that the quarrel should be followed up at law. Then some one was

sought who would take the suit up, but no one was ready to do

that.

“It seems to me,” says Gizur, “that now there are only two

courses, that one of us two undertakes the suit, and then we

shall have to draw lots who it shall be, or else the man will be

unatoned. We may make up our minds, too, that this will be a

heavy suit to touch; Gunnar has many kinsmen and is much beloved;

but that one of us who does not draw the lot, shall ride to the

Thing and never leave it until the suit comes to an end.”

After that they drew lots, and Geir the Priest drew the lot to

take up the suit.

A little after, they rode from the west over the river, and came

to the spot where the meeting had been by Rangriver, and dug up

the bodies, and took witness to the wounds. After that they gave

lawful notice and summoned nine neighbours to bear witness in the

suit.

They were told that Gunnar was at home with about thirty men;

then Geir the Priest asked whether Gizur would ride against him

with one hundred men.

“I will not do that,” says he, “though the balance of force is

great on our side.”

After that they rode back home. The news that the suit was set

on foot was spread all over the country, and the saying ran that

the Thing would be very noisy and stormy.

56. GUNNAR AND GEIR THE PRIEST STRIVE AT THE THING

There was a man named Skapti. He was the son of Thorod (1).

That father and son were great chiefs, and very well skilled in

law. Thorod was thought to be rather crafty and guileful. They

stood by Gizur the White in every quarrel.

As for the Lithemen and the dwellers by Rangriver, they came in a

great body to the Thing. Gunnar was so beloved that all said

with one voice that they would back him.

Now they all come to the Thing and fit up their booths. In

company with Gizur the White were these chiefs: Skapti Thorod’s

son, Asgrim Ellidagrim’s son, Oddi of Kidberg, and Halldor

Ornolf’s son.

Now one day men went to the Hill of Laws, and then Geir the

Priest stood up and gave notice that he had a suit of

manslaughter against Gunnar for the slaying of Otkell. Another

suit of manslaughter he brought against Gunnar for the slaying of

Halljborn the White; then, too, he went on in the same way as to

the slaying of Audulf, and so, too, as to the slaying of

Skamkell. Then, too, he laid a suit of manslaughter against

Kolskegg for the slaying of Hallkell.

And when he had given due notice of all his suits of manslaughter

it was said that he spoke well. He asked, too, in what Quarter

court the suits lay, and in what house in the district the

defendants dwelt. After that men went away from the Hill of

Laws, and so the Thing goes on till the day when the courts were

to be set to try suits. Then either side gathered their men

together in great strength.

Geir the Priest and Gizur the White stood at the court of the men

of Rangriver looking north, and Gunnar and Njal stood looking

south towards the court.

Geir the Priest bade Gunnar to listen to his oath, and then he

took the oath, and afterwards declared his suit.

Then he let men bear witness of the notice given by the suit;

then he called upon the neighbours who were to form the inquest

to take their seats; then he called on Gunnar to challenge the

inquest; and then he called on the inquest to utter their

finding. Then the neighbours who were summoned on the inquest

went to the court and took witness, and said that there was a bar

to their finding in the suit as to Audulf’s slaying, because the

next of kin who ought to follow it up was in Norway, and so they

had nothing to do with that suit.

After that they uttered their finding in the suit as to Otkell,

and brought in Gunnar as truly guilty of killing him.

Then Geir the Priest called on Gunnar for his defence, and took

witness of all the steps in the suit which had been proved.

Then Gunnar, in his turn, called on Geir the Priest to listen to

his oath, and to the defence which he was about to bring forward

in the suit. Then he took the oath and said, “This defence I

make to this suit, that I took witness and outlawed Otkell before

my neighbours for that bloody wound which I got when Otkell gave

me a hurt with his spur; but thee, Geir the Priest, I forbid by a

lawful protest made before a priest, to pursue this suit, and so,

too, I forbid the judges to hear it; and with this I make all the

steps hitherto taken in this suit void and of none-effect. I

forbid thee by a lawful protest, a full, fair, and binding

protest, as I have a right to forbid thee by the common custom of

the Thing and by the law of the land.

“Besides, I will tell thee something else which I mean to do,”

says Gunnar.

“What!” says Geir, “wilt thou challenge me to the island as thou

art wont, and not bear the law?”

“Not that,” says Gunnar; “I shall summon thee at the Hill of Laws

for that thou calledst those men on the inquest who had no right

to deal with Audulf’s slaying, and I will declare thee for that

guilty of outlawry.”

Then Njal said, “Things must not take this turn, for the only end

of it will be that this strife will be carried to the uttermost.

Each of you, as it seems to me, has much on his side. There are

some of these manslaughters, Gunnar, about which thou canst say

nothing to hinder the court from finding thee guilty; but thou

hast set on foot a suit against Geir, in which he, too, must be

found guilty. Thou too, Geir the Priest, shalt know that this

suit of outlawry which hangs over thee shall not fall to the

ground if thou wilt not listen to my words.”

Thorod the Priest said, “It seems to us as though the most

peaceful way would be that a settlement and atonement were come

to in the suit. But why sayest thou so little, Gizur the White?”

“It seems to me,” says Gizur, “as though we shall need to have

strong props for our suit; we may see, too, that Gunnar’s friends

stand near him, and so the best turn for us that things can take

will be that good men and true should utter an award on the suit,