Автор литература - Njal's Saga

but those men who try others so heavily must look for all evil.”

It was seen from Hall’s way that he thought this deed far too

strong. They rode thence all together, till they came to the

Upper Field, and there they set their men in array, and rode down

on the Thing.

Flosi had made them fit out Byrgir’s booth ere be rode to the

Thing; but the Eastfirthers rode to their own booths.

136. OF THORGEIR CRAGGEIR

Thorgeir Craggier rode from the east with much people. His

brothers were with him, Thorleif Crow and Thorgrim the Big. They

came to Hof, to Mord Valgard’s son’s house, and bided there till

he was ready. Mord had gathered every man who could bear arms,

and they could see nothing about him but that he was most

steadfast in everything, and now they rode until they came west

across the rivers. Then they waited for Hjallti Skeggi’s son.

He came after they had waited a short while, and they greeted him

well, and rode afterwards all together till they came to Reykia

in Bishop’s tongue, and bided there for Asgrim Ellidagrim’s son,

and he came to meet them there. Then they rode west across

Bridgewater. Then Asgrim told them all that had passed between

him and Flosi; and Thorgeir said, “I would that we might try

their bravery ere the Thing closes.”

They rode until they came to Baitvale. There Gizur the White

came to meet them with a very great company, and they fell to

talking together. Then they rode to the Upper Field, and drew up

all their men in array there, and so rode to the Thing.

Flosi and his men all took to their arms, and it was within an

ace that they would fall to blows. But Asgrim and his friends

and their followers would have no hand in it, and rode to their

booths; and now all was quiet that day, so that they had naught

to do with one another. Thither were come chiefs from all the

Quarters of the land; there had never been such a crowded Thing

before, that men could call to mind.

137. OF EYJOLF BOLVERK’S SON

There was a man named Eyjolf. He was the son of Bolverk, the son

of Eyjolf the Guileful, of Otterdale (1). Eyjolf was a man of

great rank, and best skilled in law of all men, so that some said

he was the third best lawyer in Iceland. He was the fairest in

face of all men, tall and strong, and there was the making of a

great chief in him. He was greedy of money, like the rest of his

kinsfolk.

One day Flosi went to the booth of Bjarni Broddhelgi’s son.

Bjarni took him by both hands, and sat Flosi down by his side.

They talked about many things, and at last Flosi said to Bjarni,

“What counsel shall we now take?”

“I think,” answered Bjarni, “that it is now hard to say what to

do, but the wisest thing seems to me to go round and ask for

help, since they are drawing strength together against you. I

will also ask thee, Flosi, whether there be any very good lawyer

in your band; for now there are but two courses left; one to ask

if they will take an atonement, and that is not a bad choice, but

the other is to defend the suit at law, if there be any defence

to it, though that will seem to be a bold course; and this is why

I think this last ought to be chosen, because ye have hitherto

fared high and mightily, and it is unseemly now to take a lower

course.”

“As to thy asking about lawyers said Flosi, “I will answer thee

at once that there is no such man in our band; nor do I know

where to look for one except it be Thorkel Geitir’s son, thy

kinsman.”

“We must not reckon on him,” said Bjarni, “for though he knows

something of law, he is far too wary, and no man need hope to

have him as his shield; but he will back thee as well as any man

who backs thee best, for he has a stout heart; besides, I must

tell thee that it will be that man’s bane who undertakes the

defence in this suit for the burning, but I have no mind that

this should befall my kinsmen Thorkel, so ye must turn your eyes

elsewhither.”

Flosi said he knew nothing about who were the best lawyers.

“There is a man named Eyjolf,” said Bjarni; “he is Bolverk’s son,

and he is the best lawyer in the Westfirther’s Quarter; but you

will need to give him much money if you are to bring him into the

suit, but still we must not stop at that. We must also go with

our arms to all law business, and be most wary of ourselves, but

not meddle with them before we are forced to fight for our lives.

And now I will go with thee, and set out at once on our begging

for help, for now methinks the peace will be kept but a little

while longer.”

After that they go out of the booth, and to the booths of the

Axefirthers. Then Bjarni talks with Lyting and Bleing, and Hroi

Arnstein’s son, and he got speedily whatever he asked of them.

Then they fared to see Kol, the son of Killing-Skuti, and Eyvind

Thorkel’s son, the son of Askel the Priest, and asked them for

their help; but they stood out a long while, but the end of it

was that they took three marks of silver for it, and so went into

the suit with them.

Then they went to the booths of the men of Lightwater, and stayed

there some time. Flosi begged the men of Lightwater for help,

but they were stubborn and hard to win over, and then Flosi said,

with much wrath, “Ye are ill-behaved! Ye are grasping and

wrongful at home in your own country, and ye will not help men at

the Thing, though they need it. No doubt you will be held up to

reproach at the Thing, and very great blame will be laid on you

if ye bear not in mind that scorn and those biting words which

Skarphedinn hurled at you men of Lightwater.”

But on the other hand, Flosi dealt secretly with them, and bade

them money for their help, and so coaxed them over with fair

words, until it came about that they promised him their aid, and

then became so steadfast that they said they would fight for

Flosi, if need were.

Then Bjarni said to Flosi, “Well done! Well done! Thou art a

mighty chief, and a bold outspoken man, and reckest little what

thou savest to men.”

After that they fared away west across the river, and so to the

Hladbooth. They saw many men outside before the booth. There

was one man who had a scarlet cloak over his shoulders, and a

gold band round his head, and an axe studded with silver in his

hand.

“This is just right,” said Bjarni, “here now is the man I spoke

of, Eyjolf Bolverk’s son, if thou wilt see him, Flosi.”

Then they went to meet Eyjolf, and hailed him. Eyjolf knew

Bjarni at once, and greeted him well. Bjarni took Eyjolf by the

hand, and led him up into the “Great Rift.” Flosi’s and Bjarni’s

men followed after, and Eyjolf’s men went also with him. They

bade them stay upon the lower brink of the Rift, and look about

them, but Flosi, and Bjarni, and Eyjolf went on till they came to

where the path leads down from the upper brink of the Rift.

Flosi said it was a good spot to sit down there, for they could

see around them far and wide. Then they sat them down there.

They were four of them together, and no more.

Then Bjarni spoke to Eyjolf, and said “Thee, friend, have we come

to see, for we much need thy help in every way.”

“Now,” said Eyjolf, “there is good choice of men here at the

Thing, and ye will not find it hard to fall on those who will be