CHAPTER XLII.DUELLING.

Two forms of duelling—The challenge—The places of combat—Rules of duelling—Plan of duelling-ground—Length of sword used—Offer of sacrifice before a duel—A peculiar duel—Women a constant cause of duels—Famous duels—The abolition of duelling.

The custom of duelling, which was frequently resorted to as a form of ordeal, prevailed very extensively.

There were two kinds of duels, theeinvigiand theholmganga. When used as a form of ordeal, or means of proof, if the challenger was victorious, then the object demanded was his, for his victory was thought to be the judgment of the gods.

“It was the law ofholmgangain those times, that if he who challenged another man in order to get something gained the victory, he should have the prize for which he had challenged; but if he was defeated, he should release himself with as much property as had been agreed upon; but if he fell in theholmgangahe should forfeit all his property, and he who killed him was to take all the inheritance” (Egil’s Saga, c. 67).

In theeinvigi[568]there were no settled rules, and each party could use such weapons as he wished, and proceed in such manner as he thought most advantageous to himself. It was the simpler mode of duelling. One of its peculiarities was that the place for the fight was marked out. The combatants were allowed to use other weapons besides swords, and themselves carried the shield, while in theholmgangait was carried for them.

Theholmganga, which took place after a formal challenge at which the time and place were fixed, was the form of duelling that chiefly prevailed. Its rules were most strict and binding,and were regulated by a code of law called the “holmganga laws.”

It derived its name from the fact that the combatants originally fought upon a small islet (holm), partly in order that they might not be disturbed and parted against their will, and partly that the fighting place might have a natural border, over which they could not retire.

In later times, instead of an island, places were marked out for duels; and though they were sometimes marked by stones in a ring, like adom-ring, they were nevertheless called “holm,” because the laws ofholmgangaprevented any one from passing the boundary.

The laws of duelling seem to have been recited before the combat. Björn Hitdœlakappi said:—

“‘I left my country because I wanted to seek fame; there are now two choices before me: the one to bravely get victory, though that is unlikely, in fighting against this man; the other is to fall with valour like a man, and that is better than to live in shame and not dare to win honour for the king. I will fight against Kaldimar.’ The king thanked him, and the laws of theholmgangawere read. The champion had an excellent sword calledMœring. They fought hard and eagerly; at last the champion fell, but Björn received a severe wound; on this account he got great fame and honour from the king” (Björn Hitdœlakappi’s Saga).

The combatants had sometimes to fight on a cloak, and were allowed to use three shields, in case of these being cut asunder, one after the other. They usually did not themselves carry the shield, each combatant having a friend to hold it, who was calledskjaldsvein(shield man). Swords of a certain length only were allowed, and it seems that they were used for striking, not thrusting.

“A cloak was spread under their feet. Bersi said, ‘Thou, Kormak, didst challenge me to holmganga, but instead of it I offer theeeinvigi(single-fight). Thou art young and little experienced, and atholmgangathere are difficult rules, but none whatever ateinvigi.’ Kormak answered, ‘I shall not fight better ineinvigi, and I will risk this, and in all be on equal footing with thee.’ ‘Thou shalt now have thy way,’ said Bersi.

“This was the holmganga law: that the cloak should be 10 feet from one end to the other, with loops in the corners, and in these should be put down pegs, having a head at the upper end; these were calledtjösnur. The one who made the preparations must go toward the pegs, hold his ear-lobes, and stand with his feet apart, seeing the sky between them, using the formulary which was afterwards used at the sacrifice calledTjösnublót(peg sacrifice). Three squares, each one foot wide, must be marked around the cloak. Outside the squares must be placed four poles, calledhöslur(hazel poles): it was called ahazelled fieldwhen it was prepared thus.

“Each man must have three shields, and when these were made useless he must stand upon the cloak, even if he had walked out of it before, and thereafter defend himself with his weapons.

Fig. 780.—Plan of Holmganga Ground.

“He who had been challenged was to strike first. If one was wounded so that blood came upon the cloak he was not obliged to fight any longer. If either stepped with one of his feet outside the hazel poles, it was held he had retreated; and if he stepped outside with both, he was held to have fled. One man was to hold the shield before each of the combatants. The one who had received most wounds was to pay ashólmlausn(i.e., indemnity for being released from the fight) three marks of silver.

“Thorgils held the shield of his brother, and Thord Arndisarson that of Bersi, who struck the first blow and cleft Kormak’s shield. Kormak struck at Bersi in the same way. Each of them spoiled three shields for the other. Then Kormak had to strike; he struck, and Bersi parried withHviting.Sköfnungcut off its point in front of the ridge, and the sword-point fell on Kormak’s hand, and he was wounded in the thumb, whose joint was rent, and blood came on the cloak. Thereupon men intervened, and did not want them to go on fighting. Kormak said, ‘It is little victory which Bersi has got from my accident, though we part now’” (Kormak’s Saga, c. 10).

“‘But I think that thou tellest the difficulties in fighting me,’ said Viking, ‘and that thou despairest when thou seest me.’ Harek said: ‘It is not so, and I must save thy life, asthou wantest thyself to go into the open mouth of death (hel); and give thou the first blow, as isholmganga law, for I have challenged thee; but I will stand still for thee meanwhile, for I am not frightened that it will harm me’” (Thorstein Vikingson’s Saga, c. 4).

After getting ready, they went to the island.

“There was a fine field not far from the sea, where theholmgangawas to be. There the place of theholmgangawas marked by stones placed in a ring around it. Ljót came thither with his men, prepared for theholmgangawith shield and sword. He was very large and strong, and when he arrived on the field at the holmgang-place the Berserk frenzy came upon him, and he howled fiercely and bit his shield.

“Egil made ready for theholmganga, having his old shield, and girt with the swordNadr, withDragvandilin his hand. He went inside the marks of theduelling-place(i.e., the squares marked out round the cloak), but Ljót was not ready. Egil raised his sword and sang.

“After the song Ljót came forward and pronounced the law of theholmganga, that he who stepped beyond the mark-stones which are set around the place ofholmgangashould ever afterwards be callednithing(coward).

“Then they rushed at each other, and Egil struck at Ljót, who covered himself with the shield, while Egil dealt blow after blow so that Ljót could not strike him. He drew back to get room to wield his sword, but Egil went equally fast after him and smote most violently. Ljót went out beyond the mark-stones and to and fro on the field. Thus went the first attack. Then Ljót asked to be allowed to rest, which Egil granted....[569]

“Egil bid Ljót to make himself ready. ‘I want this fought out.’ Ljót started to his feet, and Egil ran forward and at once struck at him. He went so close to him that he stepped back, and his shield did not cover him. Then Egil smote him above the knee, and cut off his leg. Ljót fell, and at once died” (Egil’s Saga, c. 67).

The swords had to be of a certain length.

“Bersi had a shield, and a long keen sword. Thorkel said, ‘The sword which thou wearest, Bersi, is longer than the laws allow.’ ‘It shall not be so,’ said Bersi, and brandishingHvitingwith both hands he struck Thorkel his death blow” (Kormak’s Saga, c. 14).

Egil Skallagrimsson had summoned Atli before theGulathingto get some property belonging to his wife, which he claimed that Atli had. The latter offered to prove by the oath of himself and twelve other men that he had no property belonging to Egil. But Egil said he did not want to take the oath for his property, and added:

“I will offer thee another law to settle the case with, namely, that we fight in aholmgangahere at theThing, and he who gets the victory shall have this property. What Egil said was law and an ancient custom, that every one, whether he was defendant or plaintiff, had the right to challenge the other party toholmganga. Then Atli and Egil shook hands, and settled it between themselves that they should fight aholmganga, and he who got the victory should possess those estates about which they contended. It was the custom of duellers not to draw their sword on the place ofholmganga, but let the sword hang on the arm, so that it was ready at once whenever they wanted it” (Egil’s Saga, c. 57).

It seems to have been customary, after both kinds of duel, to offer sacrifice of one or two oxen, which the victor slaughtered.

“A large and old bull was led forward; it was called sacrifice-bull; he who got the victory was to kill it. Sometimes one bull was sacrificed; sometimes each of the combatants brought one” (Egil’s Saga, c. 68).

There seems to have been a peculiar kind of holmganga calledKerganga, but the regulations concerning this mode of fighting are not explained.

Thorgils, an Icelander, dwelt at Hakon jarl’s, in Norway.

“He went on a trading journey to Upplönd and Sweden and dwelt in the winter at the house of a bondi called Thrand, a wealthy man, who had a daughter, Sigrid. A man called Randvid wished to marry her; he was a wicked man, and a great champion. Thrand refused his consent to the marriage; then Randvid offered to Thrand a kind of holmganga, which is calledKerganga(tub-going). The fight takes place in a tub, which is closed above, and Thrand preferred to fight with a wooden club rather than marry his daughter to so wicked a man. Then Thorgils said to Thrand: ‘Thou hast entertained me well, and I will reward it with good, and fight againstRandvid on thy behalf.’ Thrand said he would accept the offer. Thorgils used the sword from the earth-house (underground house). Randvid had a stick two feet long, and very stout. The tub was closed. Randvid asked Thorgils to deal the first blow, because he had been challenged; he did so, and hit the stick, and it split, and the sword entered the belly of Randvid. He said then: ‘Now give me the sword, but take the stick, and I will smite thee with the sword.’ ‘It seems to me,’ replied Thorgils, ‘that this is a chip, not a stick.’ Soon after Randvid died; he had trusted in his witchcraft, for he had killed many a man by this kind of holmgang. Thorgils killed two other vikings, Snœkoll and Snœlejon. Thrand rewarded him well, and he became very famous for this deed. He made ready for Iceland the next summer” (Flóamanna Saga).

A man was often forced to give up his wife when another man challenged him toholmganga, and make the wife the prize of the victor. Many a man not feeling himself able to cope with the challenger, surrendered his wife and daughters or sisters to the latter. This acquisition byholmgangawas undoubtedly considered quite legal, and could not be disputed except by a freshholmganga.

Unn, the wife of Rút, had separated from her husband, but left her property with him, and got her kinsman, Gunnar of Hlidarendi, to prosecute her case. Rút named his witnesses, and said the case was quashed. Gunnar asked:

“‘Are you so near to me you brothers, Höskuld and Rút, that you can hear my words?’ Rút answered: ‘We can hear, but what dost thou want?’ Gunnar said: ‘The men here present shall be witnesses that I challenge thee, Rút, toholmganga, and we will fight to-day on the islet here in Oxará (Axe river); or, if thou wilt not fight, thou must give up all the property.’ Then Gunnar sang a song.... Gunnar left the court with all his men, Höskuld and Rút also went home. The case was neither prosecuted nor defended thereafter. Rút said when he entered the booth: ‘It has never happened to me before, that a man has challenged me toholmgangaand I have declined it.’ Höskuld said: ‘Thou intendest to fight, but thou shalt not if I have my will, for there is as much difference between thee and Gunnar as between Mörd and thee; let us rather both together pay the property to Gunnar.’ The brothers asked the bœndr how much they would contribute to it; they all answered as muchas Rút wanted. Höskuld added: ‘Then let us go to the booth of Gunnar and give up the property.’ They went to the booth and called Gunnar, who went out to the door of the booth. Höskuld said: ‘Now receive the property.’ Gunnar replied: ‘Then give it up, for I am ready to receive it.’ They made over all the property completely”[570](Njala, c. 24).

“When they had fought a while Thorgils cut off the end of Svart’s shield and his foot; but then it was law that men got the inheritance of the man who fell in aholmganga. Thereupon Thorgils cut off Svart’s head and took all his ships and property” (Flóamanna Saga, c. 16).

One cause of constant duelling was a challenge given on account of women; and some men, especially Berserks, went about from place to place making duelling a profession. It was quite common for a maid who had several suitors to say that she would accept the one who should be victorious in a duel. This often resulted in the death of one or more of the combatants; and it appears that even fathers were sometimes challenged by the suitors.

“One winter there came to Vors (Voss) Thorstein, a kinsman of the brothers Ivar and Hreidar (with whom the Icelander Eyúlf was stopping), who owned a farm in Upplönd. He told his trouble, which was that a Berserk, Asgaut by name, had challenged him toholmgangabecause he refused to give his sister to him; he asked them to follow him with many men to theholmganga. They did not like to refuse, and went with thirty men to Upplönd and to the place where the meeting was to be. They asked their men if any one wanted to win a wife byholmgangaagainst Asgaut; but, although they thought the woman fair, no one was ready to do this. The brothers asked Eyúlf to hold the shield before Thorstein. Eyúlf said he had done that for no one, not even for himself. ‘I shall not be happy if he is slain on my hands’ (i.e.while I hold the shield before him); ‘there seems to me no fame in this. If the man is killed, shall we then go home, leaving matters thus, or get a second and a third champion? Our disgrace will increase the more, the more men of ours fall; and little honour will there be on our journey if we go back with Thorstein unavenged, if he falls. Rather ask of me to go intoholmgangaagainst the Berserk; that is helping one’s friend, but the other I will not assist in.’They thanked him, but, nevertheless, thought he risked too much. He added: ‘It seems to me as if none of us would go back if he is not avenged, and that it would be worse to fight against the Berserk if your kinsman is first slain.’ Thereupon he advanced, and Ivar offered to hold the shield before him. Eyúlf said: ‘That is a generous offer; but I can best take care of it, and the old saying true is, “One’s own hand is most faithful;”’ then he went to the place of theholmganga. The Berserk said: ‘Will this fool fight against me?’ Eyúlf replied: ‘Is it not that thou art afraid to fight against me? It may be that thou art of such a cowardly disposition as to fear a large man, and braggest before a small one.’ He answered, ‘That is not true; but I will pronounce for the laws ofholmganga. Six marks will absolve me from theholmif I get wounded.’ Eyúlf added: ‘I do not think it due to observe the laws towards thee when thou puttest a value on thyself, for in our land (Eyúlf was an Icelander) such a value as thou settest on thyself would be thought a thrall’s value.’ Eyúlf had to strike the first blow, and the sword struck the lower part of the shield and cut off it and the foot of the Berserk. Eyúlf got great fame from this deed, and thereupon went home with the brothers. Much property was offered to him, but he said he had not done this for the sake of property nor for the woman, but rather from friendship towards the brothers” (Vigaglum’s Saga, c. 4).[571]

“It happened on Yule-evening that the men were to make vows there over the horn of Bragi. Then the sons of Arngrim made theirs. Hjorvard vowed that he would marry Ingibjörg, the daughter of Yngvi,[572]king of the Swedes, at Uppsalir, who was famous through all countries for her beauty and accomplishments, or else he would never marry. That same spring the brothers (Hjorvard and Angantyr) made the journey to Uppsalir, and went before the table of the king; his daughter sat at his side. Hjorvard told the king of his vow and his errand while all listened. Hjorvard asked him to say at once what answer he should receive. The king thought this matter over, knowing how valiant and high-born they were. At that moment Hjalmar Hugumstori (high-minded) stepped forward and said to the king: ‘Recollect, lord, how much I have increased your honour since I came into this land; I have increased your realm so that it is twice as large; have defended it, brought into your possession the most costly things, and also placed my services at your free disposal; now, I beg of you to grant me honour and give me your daughter, on whom my mind has always beenbent. I deserve this better than the Berserk, who has only done evil in your realm and those of other kings.’ The king thought it over with double care, and it seemed to him a perplexing matter that these two chiefs should strive so hard for his daughter. He answered that either of them was so great and high-born that he would refuse her to neither; he asked her to choose which of them she liked to marry. She said that if her father wanted her to marry she would marry the man of whom she knew good, and not the one of whom she knew only evil, as she had heard of the sons of Arngrim. When Hjorvard heard her words he challenged Hjalmar to single fight south in Samsey; he said he should be callednithing(coward) by every man if he married the maiden without accepting the challenge. Hjalmar said he was quite ready, and the time of the fight was at once appointed. The sons of Arngrim went home, and told their father the result of their errand, and of the challenge to the fight. Arngrim answered: ‘Never have I been anxious about your journey before now, but nowhere know I of any match for Hjalmar in bravery and daring, or for the champion that follows him (Orvar Odd), who is only second to him in strength and valour.’ They talked no more about it. Bjartmar, a jarl, ruled Aldeigjuburgh, a very powerful and famous warrior; he was a great friend of the sons of Arngrim, and they always had peace-land there. The brothers went to Bjartmar jarl, who at once made a great feast for them; at this Angantyr asked in marriage the jarl’s daughter Svafa, and readily won her. The feast was made a wedding feast, which lasted half a month.

“When the feast was over the sons of Arngrim prepared for their journey to Samsey. The last night before they left, Angantyr had a dream, which he told to the jarl: ‘It seemed to me we brothers were in Samsey, and found many birds there, and killed them all. Then we went to the other side of the island, and two eagles flew against us. I had a hard fight against one of them, and at last we both sat down. The other eagle fought against my brothers, and overcame them all.’ The jarl answered: ‘Such a dream needs no unravelling. The fall of some men is shown to you by this, and I think it concerns you.’ They said they would not fear that. The jarl added: ‘All men go when death calls upon them.’ They spoke no more. When the feast was over the brothers went home, and Svafa remained with the jarl. They made themselves ready for the fight, and their father followed them to their ship, and gave good armour to them all. ‘I think,’ said he, ‘there is need of good weapons now, for you fight against the most valiant champions.’ Then they parted, and he badethem farewell. They sailed to Samsey, and went to Munarvog (a bay).

“When they came upon the island Berserk-fury came over them; they wrestled with the trees as they were wont.

“It is told of Hjalmar that he landed with ships on the other side of Samsey, in the harbour Unavog. He had two ships, and both were calledask; one hundred very valiant men were on each of them. The brothers saw the ships, and knew that Hjalmar and Odd (the far-travelling, called Orvar-Odd) owned them. The sons of Arngrim drew their swords and bit the edges of their shields. They went to the ships, and six of them went on board eachask; so brave were the men on them that everyone took his weapons, and no one fled from his place or spoke a word of fear. The Berserks went along the one side forwards and the other backwards, and slew every man. Then they went ashore howling. Hjorvard said: ‘Our father Arngrim has become a fool from old age, as he told us that Hjalmar and Odd were the bravest champions, and now I saw no man fight better than the others.’ Angantyr said: ‘Let us not complain that we did not find our equals; it may be that Odd and Hjalmar are not yet dead.’ Hjalmar and Odd had walked up on the island to see if the Berserks had come; when they came out of the forest the sons of Arngrim went on land from their ships with bloody weapons and drawn swords; the Berserk-fury was over, and they were less strong after it, as it were after an illness. Odd sang:

“‘Then was (cause of) fear,Once upon a time,When they howlingStepped from theasks,And groaningOn the island stepped,The inglorious ones,Twelve together.’

“‘Then was (cause of) fear,

Once upon a time,

When they howling

Stepped from theasks,

And groaning

On the island stepped,

The inglorious ones,

Twelve together.’

“Hjalmar said: ‘Thou seest that our men are slain, and it seems to me most likely that we shall all lodge with Odin in Valhöll to-night.’ This was the only word of fear that Hjalmar ever spoke. Odd answered: ‘I never saw such fiends, and it is my advice that we escape into the forest; we two shall not be able to fight the twelve, who have slain twelve of the bravest men in Svia realm.’ Hjalmar said: ‘Let us never flee from our foes, let us rather go under their weapons; I will go and fight the Berserks.’ Odd said: ‘I will not lodge with Odin to-night, and all these men will be dead ere evening comes, and we two shall live.’ Hjalmar sang:

“‘Valiant menGo from the warships,Twelve together,Inglorious men;To-night will we,The two champions,Lodge with Odin,And the twelve will live.’

“‘Valiant men

Go from the warships,

Twelve together,

Inglorious men;

To-night will we,

The two champions,

Lodge with Odin,

And the twelve will live.’

“Odd answered:

“‘To these wordsI will answer give;The twelve BerserksWill to-nightLodge with Odin,But we two live.’

“‘To these words

I will answer give;

The twelve Berserks

Will to-night

Lodge with Odin,

But we two live.’

“They saw that Angantyr hadTyrfingin his hand, for it glittered like a sunbeam. Hjalmar asked: ‘Which wilt thou fight against, Angantyr alone or his eleven brothers?’ Odd answered: ‘I will fight Angantyr; he will give hard blows withTyrfing, and I trust my shirt better than my brynja for shelter.’ Hjalmar said: ‘Have we been in any battle where thou wert in front of me; thou wishest to fight Angantyr because it seems to thee a greater feat; now, I am the principal in this duel, and also heir of the kingdom. Therefore I must have my will; it would be far from my promise to the king’s daughter in Sweden, to let thee or another go to this single fight instead of me, and I will fight Angantyr. Odd said he chose the worse alternative, but Hjalmar had his will. He drew his sword and walked towards Angantyr; one pointed to the other, the way to Valhöll. Angantyr said: ‘If any one of us escapes hence no one shall take another’s weapons; I want to haveTyrfingin my mound if I die; Odd shall have his shirt and Hjalmar his weapons; those who live shall make mounds over the other.’ Then Hjalmar and Angantyr went against each other, and fought with the greatest violence; there was no need to urge on to attack or defence. They struck hard and often, and sank into the ground up to their knees. It was like a burning flame when the steels met; neither heeded anything except to strike as often as possible, and the ground shook on account of their fight as if it were trembling. They fought till their armour began to be cut through; then each gave the other many and large wounds. Their breath came forth from their nostrils and mouths so that they were like burning stoves. Odd said afterwards a more warrior-like fight or finer weapons than in that single fight would never be seen; it is also told in tales far and wide that few more famous or brave men have been found.

“When Odd and the others had looked on for a long time, they went to another place and made ready for fight. Odd said to the Berserks: ‘I suppose you want to follow the custom of warriors, and not that of thralls; one of you, and no more, shall fight me at a time, if your courage fails not.’ They consented. Then Hjorvard came forward. Odd went against him. Odd’s sword was so good that it cut steel as if it were cloth. They began their fight with great blows, and before long Hjorvard sank dead to the ground. When the otherssaw this they scowled horribly and gnawed the edges of their shields, and froth gushed out of their mouths. Hervard rose and attacked Odd; the same happened to him, he fell dead. At this the sorrow of the Berserks turned into rage; they stretched out their tongues and ground their teeth, roaring like mad bulls, so that the rocks resounded. Then Seming rushed forth; he was, next to Angantyr, the best of the eleven. He attacked Odd so fiercely that he could do no more than defend himself. They fought long, so that it could not be seen which would get the victory; all their armour was cut off, but Odd’s shirt protected him so that he was not hurt. Seming received wounds, but nevertheless did not yield till nearly all his flesh was cut off his bones. Odd saw no spot on him which was not bloody. When all his blood had run out of his veins he fell down with great valour, and at once died. One rose after the other, but Odd at last slew them all; then he was excessively tired, but not wounded. He went to where Angantyr and Hjalmar had fought. Angantyr had fallen, and Hjalmar sat by a hillock, and was as pale as a corpse. Odd went to him and sang:

“‘What ails thee, Hjalmar,Thou hast changed colour?I see that deep woundsWeaken thee;Thy helmet is cut,And the mail-coat on thy side;Now I thinkThy life is done.’

“‘What ails thee, Hjalmar,

Thou hast changed colour?

I see that deep wounds

Weaken thee;

Thy helmet is cut,

And the mail-coat on thy side;

Now I think

Thy life is done.’

“Hjalmar sang:

“‘I have sixteen wounds,And a torn coat-of-mail;It is dark before my eyes;I cannot see to walk;The sword of AngantyrTouched my heart.The sharp sword-pointHardened in poison.‘I owned fullyFive bœrs together,But I neverEnjoyed that occupation;Now I must lieDeprived of life,Sundered with sword,In Samsey.‘Very high-born men,The Huskarls, drinkMead in the hall,At my father’s;The ale weakensMany menWhile the cutting of swordsPains me on the island.‘The tale will prove trueWhich she[573]told me,That I would notCome back.‘Draw from my handThe red ring,And take it to the youngIngibjörg.It will be to herA lasting sorrowThat I do notCome back to Uppsalir.‘I left the fairSong of women,Though ready for pleasure;I went east with Sóti;I hurried my journeyAnd went into a hostThe first time,Away from my good friends.‘The women on landWill not hearThat I shelteredMyself from blows;The wise maidenIn SigtunirWill not laughBecause I gave way.* * * * *‘I left the youngIngibjörg;We left her in hasteOn that fated day;It will be to the maidenA deep sorrowThat she after thisWill never see me.‘A raven flies from the eastFrom the high tree,And after itAn eagle follows;That is the last eagleTo which I give prey.It will tasteMy blood.‘Carry thou, to showThat is my will,My helmet and mail-coatInto the King’s hall;The mind of the King’s daughterWill be movedWhen she sees the mail-coatCut on the breast.‘I see where they sitIn Sigtunir,The maidens who held meFrom leaving thence;Ale or warriorsEver moreHjalmar will not cheerIn the King’s hall.’”(Hervarar Saga, c. 4 and 5.)

“‘I have sixteen wounds,And a torn coat-of-mail;It is dark before my eyes;I cannot see to walk;The sword of AngantyrTouched my heart.The sharp sword-pointHardened in poison.

“‘I have sixteen wounds,

And a torn coat-of-mail;

It is dark before my eyes;

I cannot see to walk;

The sword of Angantyr

Touched my heart.

The sharp sword-point

Hardened in poison.

‘I owned fullyFive bœrs together,But I neverEnjoyed that occupation;Now I must lieDeprived of life,Sundered with sword,In Samsey.

‘I owned fully

Five bœrs together,

But I never

Enjoyed that occupation;

Now I must lie

Deprived of life,

Sundered with sword,

In Samsey.

‘Very high-born men,The Huskarls, drinkMead in the hall,At my father’s;The ale weakensMany menWhile the cutting of swordsPains me on the island.

‘Very high-born men,

The Huskarls, drink

Mead in the hall,

At my father’s;

The ale weakens

Many men

While the cutting of swords

Pains me on the island.

‘The tale will prove trueWhich she[573]told me,That I would notCome back.

‘The tale will prove true

Which she[573]told me,

That I would not

Come back.

‘Draw from my handThe red ring,And take it to the youngIngibjörg.It will be to herA lasting sorrowThat I do notCome back to Uppsalir.

‘Draw from my hand

The red ring,

And take it to the young

Ingibjörg.

It will be to her

A lasting sorrow

That I do not

Come back to Uppsalir.

‘I left the fairSong of women,Though ready for pleasure;I went east with Sóti;I hurried my journeyAnd went into a hostThe first time,Away from my good friends.

‘I left the fair

Song of women,

Though ready for pleasure;

I went east with Sóti;

I hurried my journey

And went into a host

The first time,

Away from my good friends.

‘The women on landWill not hearThat I shelteredMyself from blows;The wise maidenIn SigtunirWill not laughBecause I gave way.

‘The women on land

Will not hear

That I sheltered

Myself from blows;

The wise maiden

In Sigtunir

Will not laugh

Because I gave way.

* * * * *

‘I left the youngIngibjörg;We left her in hasteOn that fated day;It will be to the maidenA deep sorrowThat she after thisWill never see me.

‘I left the young

Ingibjörg;

We left her in haste

On that fated day;

It will be to the maiden

A deep sorrow

That she after this

Will never see me.

‘A raven flies from the eastFrom the high tree,And after itAn eagle follows;That is the last eagleTo which I give prey.It will tasteMy blood.

‘A raven flies from the east

From the high tree,

And after it

An eagle follows;

That is the last eagle

To which I give prey.

It will taste

My blood.

‘Carry thou, to showThat is my will,My helmet and mail-coatInto the King’s hall;The mind of the King’s daughterWill be movedWhen she sees the mail-coatCut on the breast.

‘Carry thou, to show

That is my will,

My helmet and mail-coat

Into the King’s hall;

The mind of the King’s daughter

Will be moved

When she sees the mail-coat

Cut on the breast.

‘I see where they sitIn Sigtunir,The maidens who held meFrom leaving thence;Ale or warriorsEver moreHjalmar will not cheerIn the King’s hall.’”

‘I see where they sit

In Sigtunir,

The maidens who held me

From leaving thence;

Ale or warriors

Ever more

Hjalmar will not cheer

In the King’s hall.’”

(Hervarar Saga, c. 4 and 5.)

After the burial of the Berserks Odd leaves for Sweden.

“Thereafter Odd laid Hjalmar on the ship and sailed away. Then he used theidrott(skill, art) which had been given him, and hoisted sail in calm weather and sailed home to Sweden with the dead Hjalmar. He landed where he wished to land, and drew up his ship; he placed Hjalmar on his back, walked home to Uppsalir (Upsala) with him, and laid him down at the door of the hall. He went in with the mail-coat of Hjalmar, and also his helmet, and put them down on the floor in front of the king, and told him the tidings which had occurred. Then he went to where Ingibjörg sat in a chair, sewing a shirt for Hjalmar. Odd said: ‘Here is a ring which Hjalmar sent thee on his death-day, and therewith his greeting.’ She took the ring, looked at it, but answered nothing; she sank back between the chair-posts and died at once. Odd burst into loud laughter, and said, ‘Nothing better has occurred for a long time, and I welcome it; now they will enjoy each other dead, which they could not alive.’ Odd took her and carried her with his hands, and laid her in the arms ofHjalmar at the door of the hall, and sent in for the king and told him to look how he had arranged her. Thereafter the king welcomed Odd, and seated him in the high seat at his side. When Odd had rested himself the king said he wanted to make anarvel[574]after Hjalmar and Ingibjörg, and raise a mound over them. The king let everything be done as Odd ordered. The helmet and mail-coat of Hjalmar were brought forward, and the men praised his deeds highly, and told how hard it had been to slay him; they were both placed in one mound, and all went to see this great mound, for Odd had it made with much honour. He remained quiet that winter with King Hlodver, who in the autumn gave him men and ten ships, and he went in the summer to seek Ögmund Eythjofsbani again, but found him not” (Orvar Odd’s Saga, c. 14).

In the time of King Knut duelling was abolished in Norway, and robbers and Berserks were outlawed.

“The last summer before the one when Eirik jarl, Hakonsson, made ready to go west to England to visit King Knut the Great, his brother-in-law, he placed his son Hakon as ruler over Norway, and gave him into the hands of his own brother Svein jarl to look after and govern for him, because Hakon was a child in age. Before Eirik jarl left, he summoned to him the chiefs and powerful bœndr; they talked much about the laws and customs of the land, for Eirik jarl was a wise ruler. The men thought it a great barbarity in the land, that rioters or Berserks challenged high-born men for the sake of their property or women, and that the one who fell should have no indemnity paid for his slaying; many suffered disgrace and loss of property, and some lost their life; therefore Eirik jarl abolished allholmgangasin Norway, and outlawed all robbers and Berserks who went about plundering” (Gretti’s Saga, c. 19).

“In the summer a throng of men rode to the Thing—Illugi the Black and his sons Gunnlaug and Hermund, Thorstein Egilsson and his son Kollsvein, Önund from Mosfell with all his sons, and Sverting Hafr-Bjarnarson. One day when a crowd went to thelögberg(law-hill) and the law cases were ended, Gunnlaug asked for a hearing, and said, ‘Is Hrafn Önundsson here?’ He said he was. Gunnlaug Ormstúnga then added: ‘Thou knowest that thou hast got my betrothed, and that thou hast shown enmity towards me; on that account I will summon thee toholmgangaafter three days’ time on Öxarár-holm’(an islet in the Axe-river (Öxará)). Hrafn replied: ‘This is well offered, as was to be expected from thee, and I am ready when thou wishest.’ This the kinsmen of both thought lamentable, but it nevertheless was the law in that time to bid toholmgangathe person by whom a man thought himself wronged. After three nights they made ready for theholmganga, and Illugi the Black followed his son to the place with very many men, but Skapti (lawman) followed Hrafn and his father and other kinsmen.... Hermund held the shield before his brother Gunnlaug, and Sverting Hafr-Bjarnarson that before Hrafn. The one who first got wounded had to redeem himself from the holmganga with three marks of silver. Hrafn had the first blow, for he was the challenged one, and he cut into the top of Gunnlaug’s shield, and his sword broke at the guards, as the blow was given with great force. The sword-point rebounded from the shield, and struck Gunnlaug on the cheek, and he was a little hurt. Both their fathers and many others stepped between them. Gunnlaug said, ‘I claim that Hrafn is defeated, for he is weaponless.’ Hrafn replied, ‘And I claim that thou art beaten, for thou art wounded.’ Gunnlaug at this grew very angry, and cried that this was not fought out. His father Illugi would allow them to fight no more at that time. Gunnlaug added that next time when he and Hrafn were to meet he hoped his father would be too far away to part them. After this they separated, and the men went back to their booths. On the following day a law was enacted at the law-court (of the Thing) that thenceforth all holmgangas should be abolished; this was done at the advice of the wisest men in the land who were there present” (Gunnlaug Ormstunga).

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