Автор литература - Njal's Saga

the blood-feud for my foster-father.”

“There will ever be most good in thee,” said Njal, “when there

is most need of it.”

So they all busked them to ride away from home, and were nigh

thirty men in all, and rode till they came to Thursowater. Then

came after them Njal’s kinsmen, Thorleif Crow, and Thorgrim the

Big; they were Holt-Thorir’s sons, and offered their help and

following to Njal’s sons, and they took that gladly.

So they rode altogether across Thursowater, until they came on

Laxwater bank, and took a rest and baited their horses there, and

there Hjallti Skeggi’s son came to meet them, and Njal’s sons

fell to talking with him, and they talked long and low.

“Now, I will show,” said Hjallti, “that I am not blackhearted;

Njal has asked me for help, and I have agreed to it, and given my

word to aid him; he has often given me and many others the worth

of it in cunning counsel.”

Hjallti tells Njal all about Flosi’s doings. They sent Thorhall

on to Tongue to tell Asgrim that they would be there that

evening; and Asgrim made ready at once, and was out of doors to

meet them when Njal rode into the town.”

Njal was clad in a blue cape, and had a felt hat on his head, and

a small axe in his hand. Asgrim helped Njal off his horse, and

led him and sate him down in his own seat. After that they all

went in, Njal’s sons and Kari. Then Asgrim went out.

Hjallti wished to turn away, and thought there were too many

there; but Asgrim caught hold of his reins, and said he should

never have his way in riding off, and made men unsaddle their

horses, and led Hjallti in and sate him down by Njal’s side; but

Thorleif and his brother sat on the other bench and their men

with them.

Asgrim sate him down on a stool before Njal, and asked, “What

says thy heart about our matter?”

“It speaks rather heavily,” says Njal, “for I am afraid that we

shall have no lucky men with us in the suit; but I would, friend,

that thou shouldest send after all the men who belong to thy

Thing, and ride to the Althing with me.”

“I have always meant to do that,” says Asgrim; “and this I will

promise thee at the same time, that I will never leave thy cause

while I can get any men to follow me.”

But all those who were in the house thanked him, and said that

was bravely spoken. They were there that night, but the day

after all Asgrim’s band came thither.

And after that they all rode together till they come up on the

Thingfield, and fit up their booths.

118. ASGRIM AND NJAL’S SONS PRAY MEN FOR HELP

By that time Flosi had come to the Thing, and filled all his

booths. Runolf filled the Dale-dwellers’ booths, and Mord the

booths of the men from Rangriver. Hall of the Side had long

since come from the east, but scarce any of the other men; but

still Hall of the Side had come with a great band, and joined

this at once to Flosi’s company, and begged him to take an

atonement and to make peace.

Hall was a wise man and good-hearted. Flosi answered him well in

everything, but gave way in nothing.

Hall asked what men had promised him help? Flosi named Mord

Valgard’s son, and said he had asked for his daughter at the hand

of his kinsman Starkad.

Hall said she was a good match, but it was ill dealing with Mord,

“And that thou wilt put to the proof ere this Thing be over.”

After that they ceased talking.

One day Njal and Asgrim had a long talk in secret.

Then all at once Asgrim sprang up and said to Njal’s sons, “We

must set about seeking friends, that we may not be overborne by

force; for this suit will be followed up boldly.”

Then Asgrim went out, and Helgi Njal’s son next; then Kari

Solmund’s son; then Grim Njal’s son; then Skarphedinn; then

Thorhall; then Thorgrim the Big; then Thorleif Crow.

They went to the booth of Gizur the White and inside it. Gizur

stood up to meet them, and bade them sit down and drink.

“Not thitherward,” says Asgrim, “tends our way, and we will speak

our errand out loud, and not mutter and mouth about it. What

help shall I have from thee, as thou art my kinsman?”

“Jorunn, my sister,” said Gizur, “would wish that I should not

shrink from standing by thee; and so it shall be now and

hereafter, that we will both of us have the same fate.”

Asgrim thanked him, and went away afterwards.

Then Skarphedinn asked, “Whither shall we go now?”

“To the booths of the men of Olfus,” says Asgrim.

So they went thither, and Asgrim asked whether Skapti Thorod’s

son were in the booth? He was told that he was. Then they went

inside the booth.

Skapti sate on the crossbench, and greeted Asgrim, and he took

the greeting well.

Skapti offered Asgrim a seat by his side, but Asgrim said he

should only stay there a little while, “But still we have an

errand to thee.”

“Let me hear it?” says Skapti.

“I wish to beg thee for thy help, that thou wilt stand by us in

our suit.”

“One thing I had hoped,” says Skapti, “and that is, that neither

you nor your troubles would ever come into my dwelling.”

“Such things are ill-spoken,” says Asgrim, “when a man is the

last to help others, when most lies on his aid.”

“Who is yon man,” says Skapti, “before whom four men walk, a big

burly man, and pale-faced, unlucky-looking, well-knit, and

troll-like?”

“My name is Skarphedinn,” he answers, “and thou hast often seen

me at the Thing; but in this I am wiser than you, that I have no

need to ask what thy name is. Thy name is Skapti Thorod’s son,

but before thou calledst thyself `Bristlepoll,’ after thou hadst

slain Kettle of Elda; then thou shavedst thy poll, and puttedst

pitch on thy head, and then thou hiredst thralls to cut up a sod

of turf, and thou creptest underneath it to spend the night.

After that thou wentest to Thorolf Lopt’s son of Eyrar, and he

took thee on board, and bore thee out here in his meal sacks.”

After that Asgrim and his band went out, and Skarphedinn asked,

“Whither shall we go now?”

“To Snorri the Priest’s booth,” says Asgrim.

Then they went to Snorri’s booth. There was a man outside before

the booth, and Asgrim asked whether Snorri were in the booth.

The man said he was.

Asgrim went into the booth, and all the others. Snorri was

sitting on the crossbench, and Asgrim went and stood before him,

and hailed him well.

Snorri took his greeting blithely, and bade him sit down.

Asgrim said he should be only a short time there, “But we have

an errand with thee.”

Snorri bade him tell it.

“I would,” said Asgrim, “that thou wouldst come with me to the

court, and stand by me with thy help, for thou art a wise man,

and a great man of business.”

“Suits fall heavy on us now,” says Snorri the Priest, “and now

many men push forward against us, and so we are slow to take up

the troublesome suits of other men from other quarters.”

“Thou mayest stand excused,” says Asgrim “for thou art not in our

debt for any service.”

“I know,” says Snorri, “that thou art a good man and true, and

I will promise thee this, that I will not be against thee, and

not yield help to thy foes.”

Asgrim thanked him, and Snorri the Priest asked, “Who is that man

before whom four go, pale-faced, and sharp-featured, and who