Автор литература - Njal's Saga

The Story of Burnt Njal

Originally written in Icelandic, sometime in the 13th Century

A.D. Author unknown.

This electronic edition was produced, edited, and prepared by

Douglas B. Killings (DeTroyes@AOL.COM), July 1995. Document

scanning provided by David Reid and John Servilio.

THE STORY OF BURNT NJAL

1. OF FIDDLE MORD

There was a man named Mord whose surname was Fiddle; he was the

son of Sigvat the Red, and he dwelt at the “Vale” in the

Rangrivervales. He was a mighty chief, and a great taker up of

suits, and so great a lawyer that no judgments were thought

lawful unless he had a hand in them. He had an only daughter,

named Unna. She was a fair, courteous, and gifted woman, and

that was thought the best match in all the Rangrivervales.

Now the story turns westward to the Broadfirth dales, where, at

Hauskuldstede, in Laxriverdale, dwelt a man named Hauskuld, who

was Dalakoll’s son, and his mother’s name was Thorgerda.(1) He

had a brother named Hrut, who dwelt at Hrutstede; he was of the

same mother as Hauskuld, but his father’s name was Heriolf. Hrut

was handsome, tall and strong, well skilled in arms, and mild of

temper; he was one of the wisest of men — stern towards his

foes, but a good counsellor on great matters. It happened once

that Hauskuld bade his friends to a feast, and his brother Hrut

was there, and sat next him. Hauskuld had a daughter named

Hallgerda, who was playing on the floor with some other girls.

She was fair of face and tall of growth, and her hair was as soft

as silk; it was so long, too, that it came down to her waist.

Hauskuld called out to her, “Come hither to me, daughter.” So

she went up to him, and he took her by the chin, and kissed her;

and after that she went away.

Then Hauskuld said to Hrut, “What dost thou think of this maiden?

Is she not fair?” Hrut held his peace. Hauskuld said the same

thing to him a second time, and then Hrut answered, “Fair enough

is this maid, and many will smart for it, but this I know not,

whence thief’s eyes have come into our race.” Then Hauskuld was

wroth, and for a time the brothers saw little of each other.

ENDNOTES:

(1) Thorgerda was daughter of Thorstein the Red who was Olaf the

White’s son, Ingialld’s son, Helgi’s son. Ingialld’s mother

was Thora, daughter of Sigurd Snake-i’-the-eye, who was

Ragnar Hairybreek’s son. And the Deeply-wealthy was

Thorstein the Red’s mother; she was daughter of Kettle

Flatnose, who was Bjorn Boun’s son, Grim’s son, Lord of Sogn

in Norway.

2. HRUT WOOS UNNA

It happened once that those brothers, Hauskuld and Hrut, rode to

the Althing, and there was much people at it. Then Hauskuld said

to Hrut, “One thing I wish, brother, and that is, that thou

wouldst better thy lot and woo thyself a wife.”

Hrut answered, “That has been long on my mind, though there

always seemed to be two sides to the matter; but now I will do as

thou wishest; whither shall we turn our eyes?”

Hauskuld answered, “Here now are many chiefs at the Thing, and

there is plenty of choice, but I have already set my eyes on a

spot where a match lies made to thy hand. The woman’s name is

Unna, and she is a daughter of Fiddle Mord, one of the wisest of

men. He is here at the Thing and his daughter too, and thou

mayest see her if it pleases thee.”

Now the next day, when men were going to the High Court, they saw

some well-dressed women standing outside the booths of the men

from the Rangrivervales. Then Hauskuld said to Hrut “Yonder now

is Unna, of whom I spoke; what thinkest thou of her?”

“Well,” answered Hrut; “but yet I do not know whether we should

get on well together.”

After that they went to the High Court, where Fiddle Mord was

laying down the law as was his wont, and after he had done he

went home to his booth.

Then Hauskuld and Hrut rose, and went to Mord’s booth. They went

in and found Mord sitting in the innermost part of the booth, and

they bade him “Good-day.” He rose to meet them, and took

Hauskuld by the hand and made him sit down by his side, and Hrut

sat next to Hauskuld. So after they had talked much of this and

that, at last Hauskuld said, “I have a bargain to speak to thee

about; Hrut wishes to become thy son-in-law, and buy thy

daughter, and I, for my part, will not be sparing in the matter.”

Mord answered, “I know that thou art a great chief, but thy

brother is unknown to me.”

“He is a better man than I,” answered Hauskuld.

“Thou wilt need to lay down a large sum with him, for she is heir

to all I leave behind me,” said Mord.

“There is no need,” said Hauskuld, “to wait long before thou

hearest what I give my word lie shall have. He shall have

Kamness and Hrutstede, up as far as Thrandargil, and a trading-ship beside, now on her voyage.”

Then said Hrut to Mord, “Bear in mind, now, husband, that my

brother has praised me much more than I deserve for love’s sake;

but if after what thou hast heard, thou wilt make the match, I am

willing to let thee lay down the terms thyself.”

Mord answered, “I have thought over the terms; she shall have

sixty hundreds down, and this sum shall be increased by a third

more in thine house, but if ye two have heirs, ye shall go halves

in the goods.”

Then said Hrut, “I agree to these terms, and now let us take

witness.” After that they stood up and shook hands, and Mord

betrothed his daughter Unna to Hrut, and the bridal feast was to

be at Mord’s house, half a month after Midsummer.

Now both sides ride home from the Thing, and Hauskuld and Hrut

ride westward by Hallbjorn’s beacon. Then Thiostolf, the son of

Bjorn Gullbera of Reykriverdale, rode to meet them, and told them

how a ship had come out from Norway to the White River, and how

aboard of her was Auzur Hrut’s father’s brother, and he wished

Hrut to come to him as soon as ever he could. When Hrut heard

this, he asked Hauskuld to go with him to the ship, so Hauskuld

went with his brother, and when they reached the ship, Hrut gave

his kinsman Auzur a kind and hearty welcome. Auzur asked them

into his booth to drink, so their horses were unsaddled, and they

went in and drank, and while they were drinking, Hrut said to

Auzur, “Now, kinsman, thou must ride west with me, and stay with

me this winter.”

“That cannot be, kinsman, for I have to tell thee the death of

thy brother Eyvind, and he has left thee his heir at the Gula

Thing, and now thy foes will seize thy heritage, unless thou

comest to claim it.”

“What’s to be done now, brother?” said Hrut to Hauskuld, “for

this seems a hard matter, coming just as I have fixed my bridal

day.”

“Thou must ride south,” said Hauskuld, “and see Mord, and ask him

to change the bargain which ye two have made, and to let his

daughter sit for thee three winters as thy betrothed, but I will

ride home and bring down thy wares to the ship.”

Then said Hrut, “My wish is that thou shouldest take meal and

timber, and whatever else thou needest out of the lading.” So

Hrut had his horses brought out, and he rode south, while

Hauskuld rode home west. Hrut came east to the Rangrivervales to

Mord, and had a good welcome, and he told Mord all his business,

and asked his advice what he should do.