Laxdaela Saga

C. Press Muriel A.

Description

One of a series of thirteenth-century texts that tell of the fortunes, quests and struggles of early Icelandic families, the Laxdaela Saga is a gripping historical account of emigration from Norway, passionate love triangles, evolving gender roles, heated battles, centuries-old grudges, vengeance, and much more.

Sujets

• Sagas

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781775454984
• Langue: English

Extrait

LAXDAELA SAGA
* * *
Translated by
MURIEL A. C. PRESS
 
*
Laxdaela Saga From an 1899 edition ISBN 978-1-77545-498-4 © 2011 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
*
Chapter I - Of Ketill Flatnose and His Descendants, 9th Century A.D. Chapter II - Ketill and His Sons Prepare to Leave Norway Chapter III - Ketill's Sons Go to Iceland Chapter IV - Ketill Goes to Scotland, A.D. 890 Chapter V - Unn Goes to Iceland, A.D. 895 Chapter VI - Unn Divides Her Land Chapter VII - Of the Wedding of Olaf "Feilan," A.D. 920 Chapter VIII - The Birth of Hrut and Thorgerd's Second Widowhood, A.D. 923 Chapter IX - Hoskuld's Marriage, A.D. 935 Chapter X - Of Viga Hrapp Chapter XI - About Thord Goddi and Thorbjorn Skrjup Chapter XII - Hoskuld Buys a Slave Woman Chapter XIII - Hoskuld Returns to Iceland, A.D. 948 Chapter XIV - The Murder of Hall, Ingjald's Brother Chapter XV - Thorolf's Escape with Asgaut the Thrall Chapter XVI - Thord Becomes Olaf's Foster Father, A.D. 950 Chapter XVII - About Viga Hrapp's Ghost, A.D. 950 Chapter XVIII - Of the Drowning of Thorstein Swart Chapter XIX - Hrut Comes to Iceland Chapter XX - Melkorka's Marriage and Olaf the Peacock's Journey, A.D. 955 Chapter XXI - Olaf the Peacock Goes to Ireland, A.D. 955 Chapter XXII - Olaf the Peacock Comes Home to Iceland, A.D. 957 Chapter XXIII - The Marriage of Olaf Peacock and Thorgerd, the Daughter of Egil, A.D.959 Chapter XXIV - The Building of Herdholt, A. D. 960 Chapter XXV - About Hoskuld's Sons Chapter XXVI - The Death of Hoskuld, A.D. 985 Chapter XXVII - The Funeral Feast for Hoskuld Chapter XXVIII - The Birth of Kjartan, Olaf's Son, A.D. 978 Chapter XXIX - Olaf's Second Journey to Norway, A.D. 975 Chapter XXX - About Giermund and Thured, A.D. 978 Chapter XXXI - Thured's Second Marriage, A.D. 980 Chapter XXXII - Of Osvif Helgeson Chapter XXXIII - Of Gest Oddleifson and Gudrun's Dreams Chapter XXXIV - Gudrun's First Marriage, A.D. 989 Chapter XXXV - Gudrun's Second Marriage, A.D. 991 Chapter XXXVI - About Kotkell and Grima Chapter XXXVII - About Hrut and Eldgrim, A.D. 995 Chapter XXXVIII - The Death of Stigandi Thorliek Leaves Iceland Chapter XXXIX - Of Kjartan's Friendship for Bolli Chapter XL - Kjartan and Bolli Voyage to Norway, A.D. 996 Chapter XLI - Bolli Returns to Iceland, A.D. 999 Chapter XLII - Bolli Makes Love to Gudrun, A.D. 1000 Chapter XLIII - Kjartan Comes Back to Iceland, A.D. 1001 Chapter XLIV - Kjartan Comes Home, A.D. 1001 Chapter XLV - Kjartan Marries Hrefna, A.D. 1002 Chapter XLVI - Feast at Herdholt and the Loss of Kjartan's Sword, A.D. 1002 Chapter XLVII - Kjartan Goes to Laugar, and of the Bargain for Tongue, A.D. 1003 Chapter XLVIII - The Men of Laugar and Gudrun Plan an Ambush for Kjartan, A.D. 1003 Chapter XLIX - The Death of Kjartan Chapter L - The End of Hrefna the Peace Settled, A.D. 1003 Chapter LI - Osvif's Sons Are Banished Chapter LII - The Killing of Thorkell of Goat's Peak Chapter LIII - Thorgerd's Egging, A.D. 1007 Chapter LIV - Halldor Prepares to Avenge Kjartan Chapter LV - The Death of Bolli Chapter LVI - Bolli Bollison is Born, A.D. 1008 Chapter LVII - About Thorgils Hallason, A.D. 1018 Chapter LVIII - Thorkell and Grim, and Their Voyage Abroad Chapter LIX - Gudrun Demands Revenge for Bolli, A.D. 1019 Chapter LX - The Egging of Gudrun Chapter LXI - Of Thorstein the Black and Lambi Chapter LXII - Thorgils and His Followers Leave Home Chapter LXIII - The Description of His Enemies Brought to Helgi Chapter LXIV - The Death of Helgi, A.D. 1019 Chapter LXV - Of Gudrun's Deceit Chapter LXVI - Osvif and Gest Die Chapter LXVII - The Death of Thorgils Hallason, A.D. 1020 Chapter LXVIII - Gudrun's Marriage with Thorkell Eyjolfson Chapter LXIX - The Quarrel About Gunnar at the Feast Chapter LXX - Thorleik Goes to Norway Chapter LXXI - The Peace Between the Sons of Bolli and the Sons of Olaf, A.D. 1026 Chapter LXXII - Bolli and Thorleik Go Abroad, A. D. 1029 Chapter LXXIII - Bolli's Voyage Chapter LXXIV - Thorkell Eyjolfson Goes to Norway Chapter LXXV - Thorkell and Thorstein and Halldor Olafson, A.D. 1026 Chapter LXXVI - The Drowning of Thorkell, A.D. 1026 Chapter LXXVII - The Return of Bolli, A.D. 1030 Chapter LXXVIII - The Death of Snorri, and the End, A.D. 1031 Note Endnotes
Chapter I - Of Ketill Flatnose and His Descendants, 9th Century A.D.
*
Of Ketill Flatnose and his Descendants, 9th Century A.D.
Ketill's family
Ketill Flatnose was the name of a man. He was the sonof Bjorn the Ungartered. Ketill was a mighty and high-born chieftain(hersir) in Norway. He abode in Raumsdale, within the folkland of theRaumsdale people, which lies between Southmere and Northmere. KetillFlatnose had for wife Yngvild, daughter of Ketill Wether, who was aman of exceeding great worth. They had five children; one was namedBjorn the Eastman, and another Helgi Bjolan. Thorunn the Horned wasthe name of one of Ketill's daughters, who was the wife of Helgi theLean, son of Eyvind Eastman, and Rafarta, daughter of Kjarval, theIrish king. Unn "the Deep-minded" was another of Ketill's daughters,and was the wife of Olaf the White, son of Ingjald, who was son ofFrodi the Valiant, who was slain by the Svertlings. Jorunn, "Men'sWit-breaker," was the name of yet another of Ketill's daughters. Shewas the mother of Ketill the Finn, who settled on land at Kirkby. Hisson was Asbjorn, father of Thorstein, father of Surt, the father ofSighat the Speaker-at-Law.
Chapter II - Ketill and His Sons Prepare to Leave Norway
*
The tyranny of King Harald
In the latter days of Ketillarose the power of King Harald the Fairhaired, in such a way that nofolkland king or other great men could thrive in the land unless healone ruled what title should be theirs. When Ketill heard that KingHarald was minded to put to him the same choice as to other men ofmight—namely, not only to put up with his kinsmen being leftunatoned, but to be made himself a hireling to boot—he calls togethera meeting of his kinsmen, and began his speech in this wise: "You allknow what dealings there have been between me and King Harald, thewhich there is no need of setting forth; for a greater need besets us,to wit, to take counsel as to the troubles that now are in store forus. I have true news of King Harald's enmity towards us, and to me itseems that we may abide no trust from that quarter.
Ketill's speech
It seems to me that there are two choices left us,either to fly the land or to be slaughtered each in his own seat. Now,as for me, my will is rather to abide the same death that my kinsmensuffer, but I would not lead you by my wilfulness into so great atrouble, for I know the temper of my kinsmen and friends, that yewould not desert me, even though it would be some trial of manhood tofollow me." Bjorn, the son of Ketill, answered: "I will make known mywishes at once. I will follow the example of noble men, and fly thisland. For I deem myself no greater a man by abiding at home thethralls of King Harald, that they may chase me away from my ownpossessions, or that else I may have to come by utter death at theirhands." At this there was made a good cheer, and they all thought itwas spoken bravely. This counsel then was settled, that they shouldleave the country, for the sons of Ketill urged it much, and no onespoke against it. Bjorn and Helgi wished to go to Iceland, for theysaid they had heard many pleasing news thereof. They had been toldthat there was good land to be had there, and no need to pay money forit; they said there was plenty of whale and salmon and other fishingall the year round there. But Ketill said, "Into that fishing place Ishall never come in my old age." So Ketill then told his mind, sayinghis desire was rather to go west over the sea, for there was achance of getting a good livelihood. He knew lands there wide about,for there he had harried far and wide.
Chapter III - Ketill's Sons Go to Iceland
*
Of Bjorn in Iceland
After that Ketill made a great feast,and at it he married his daughter Thorunn the Horned to Helgi theLean, as has been said before. After that Ketill arrayed his journeywest over the sea. Unn, his daughter, and many others of his relationswent with him. That same summer Ketill's sons went to Iceland withHelgi, their brother-in-law. Bjorn, Ketill's son, brought his ship tothe west coast of Iceland, to Broadfirth, and sailed up the firthalong the southern shore, till he came to where a bay cuts into theland, and a high mountain stood on the ness on the inner side of thebay, but an island lay a little way off the land. Bjorn said that theyshould stay there for a while. Bjorn then went on land with a few men,and wandered along the coast, and but a narrow strip of land was therebetween fell and foreshore. This spot he thought suitable forhabitation. Bjorn found the pillars of his temple washed up in acertain creek, and he thought that showed where he ought to build hishouse. Afterwards Bjorn took for himself all the land betweenStaff-river and Lavafirth, and abode in the place that ever after wascalled Bjornhaven. He was called Bjorn the Eastman.
Ketill's doings in Scotland
His wife, Gjaflaug, was the daughter ofKjallak the Old. Their sons were Ottar and Kjallak, whose son wasThorgrim, the father of Fight-Styr and Vemund, but the daughter ofKjallak was named Helga, who was the wife of Vestar of Eyr, son ofThorolf "Bladder-skull," who settled Eyr. Their son was Thorlak,father of Steinthor of Eyr. Helgi