Egil’s Saga. E. Eddison R.
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and harried. With him was in fellowship that man that was called Berdla-Kari: a worshipful man and the greatest man of prowess both for doing and daring. He was a berserk.2 He and Wolf had but one purse, and there was betwixt them the lovingest friendship. But when they gave over their harrying, then went Kari to his own place in Berdla. He was a man exceeding wealthy. Kari had three children: his sons were named Eyvind Lambi, the one, and the other Oliver Hnufa;3 his daughter’s name was Salbiorg. She was the most beautiful of women and a great lady,4 and her Wolf won to wife. Thereafter went he likewise to his own place.
Wolf was a man wealthy both in lands and loose goods. He took style and state of a landed man,5 like as had his father done before him, and became a man of might. So is it said, that Wolf was a great man in his housekeeping. That was his wont, to rise up betimes and so go among his men at their tasks or where his smiths were and overlook his stock and his tillage; and at whiles would he be talking with men, those who needed his counsel. Well he knew how to lay good counsel to every need, for he was very wise. But every day when it drew toward evening, then would he begin to be sulky, so that few men might come to speech with him. He was evening-sleepy; and that was the talk of men, that he was exceeding shape-strong.6 He was called Kveldulf.7
Kveldulf and his wife had two sons: the elder was named Thorolf, and the younger, Grim.8 And when they were waxen up, then were they both men big and strong, like as their father was. Thorolf was the comeliest of men and the ablest. He was like his mother’s kinsfolk, a very glad man, open-handed and a man swift and eager in all things, and the most masterful of men; beloved was he of all men. Grim was a black man and an ugly, like to his father both in outward seeming and in bent of mind. He grew to be a great workman: he was a handy man with timber and iron and became the greatest of smiths. He fared besides oft in winter a-herring-fishing with his fishing boat, and many housecarles9 along with him.
But when Thorolf was about twenty year old, then would he betake him to harrying. Kveldulf found him a long-ship.10 To that faring set forth those sons of Berdla-Kari, Eyvind and Oliver: they had a big company and another long-ship, and fared that summer a-viking and won them fee,11 and a great booty they had to share. That was certain summers that they lay out a-viking, but were at home in winter-time with their fathers. Thorolf had away home with him many costly treasures, and brought them to his father and mother. That was a time both good for gain and renown among men.
Kveldulf was then much in his declining age, but his sons were full grown.
CHAPTER II. OF OLIVER AND SOLVEIG.
AUDBIORN was in that time king over the Firthfolk: Hroald was his earl1 named, and the earl’s son Thorir.2 Then too was Atli the Slender3 an earl: he dwelt at Gaular. His children were these: Hallstein, Holmstein, Herstein, and Solveig the Fair. That was on a time in autumn, that there was much folk in Gaular for the autumn-sacrifice.4 Oliver Hnufa saw Solveig there, and dearly set his heart upon her. Thereafter he asked her in marriage, but the earl thought the match uneven and would not give her. Thereafter made Oliver many love-song ditties. So mightily had Oliver set his heart on Solveig that he left off his war-faring, and there were now in war-faring but Thorolf and Eyvind Lambi.
CHAPTER III. THE UPRISING OF KING HARALD HAIRFAIR.
HARALD the son of Half dan the Black had taken heritage after his father east in the Wick. He had this oath sworn: to let not shear his hair neither comb it until he should be sole King over all Norway. He was called Harald Shockhead.1
And now he fought against those kings that were nighest at hand, and conquered them: and of that are long stories told. Thereafter gat he unto him the Uplands. Thence fared he north into Thrandheim,2 and had there many battles ere he made himself sole lord over all the Thrand-lay. Thereafter he was minded to fare north into Naumdale to deal with those brethren, Herlaug and Hrollaug, who were then kings over Naumdale. But when those brethren heard tell of his faring, then went Herlaug with eleven men into that howe they had before let be a-making through three winters, and thereafter was the howe shut up again. But King Hrollaug tumbled himself out of kingdom3 and took on him earl’s estate, and went therewith under the might of Harald the King and gave up his own realm. So gat King Harald unto him the Naumdale folk and Halogaland. There set he men over his realm.
After that, King Harald set forth out of Thrandheim with a host of ships and fared south to Mere: had there a battle with King Hunthiof and had the victory. There fell Hunthiof. Then gat King Harald unto him Northmere and Raumsdale. But Solvi Klofi, the son of Hunthiof, had escaped away, and he fared into Southmere to King Arnvid, and bade his help, and said as thus: “Though this trouble have now lighted on our hand, ’twill not be long ere the same trouble shall come upon you; for Harald, I ween, will shortly hither come, soon as he hath all men thralled and enslaved, according to his will, in Northmere and in Raumsdale. You will have that same choice too before your hands that we had: either to defend your fee and freedom, and hazard thereon every man’s ye have hope of aid from; and for this will I proffer myself, with mine aid, against this overweening and unjustness. But for your other choice, you must be content to take to that rede, as did the Naumdalers, to go of your own free will into bondage and be made thralls4 of Harald. To my father that seemed glory, to die in kingdom with honour, rather than be made in his old age under-man unto another king. I think that to thee, too, it so shall seem, and to others, them that show somewhat of free-board in their sailing,5 and will be men of valour”.
With such-like talk was the king brought to this set resolve, to raise forces and defend his land. He and Solvi bound them now in league together, and sent word to King Audbiorn that ruled over the Firthfolk, that he should come and help them. But when the messengers came to King Audbiorn and bare him this word-sending, then took he rede with his own friends, and that rede they gave him all, to raise forces and go join with Mere, even as word was sent him.
King Audbiorn let shear up the war-arrow6 and fare a host-bidding through all his realm. He sent men to all the great men to bid them to him. But when the king’s messengers came to Kveldulf and said unto him their errand, and this, too, that the king will that Kveldulf come to him with all his housecarles, then answereth Kveldulf as thus: “That may the king think binding on me, that I fare with him if he must defend his own land and be harried in the Firthfolk: but this count I all outside my bond, to fare north to Mere and do battle there and defend land of theirs. That is your swiftest to say, that Kveldulf will sit at home through this war-rush, and he will summon no war-host, and not make his this faring abroad to do battle against Harald Shockhead. For I ween that Harald hath weight enough of luck7 there, where our king hath not so much as a good fistful”.
The messengers fared home to the king and said unto him their errand’s speeding. But Kveldulf sat at home in his own place.
CHAPTER IV. OF THE BATTLE OFF SOLSKEL.
KING AUDBIORN fared, with that force that followed him, north into Mere, and fell in there with King Arnvid and Solvi Klofi, and they had all together a mighty war-host. King Harald was then too come from the north with his host, and their meeting was on the inner side of Solskel. There was there a great battle, and great man-fall in either host. There fell out of Harald’s host two earls, Asgaut and Asbiorn, and two sons of Hakon the Earl of Hladir,1 Griotgard and Herlaug, and much else of men of might; but of the host of Mere fell King Arnvid and King Audbiorn. But Solvi Klofi came off by fleeing, and became thereafter a great viking, and did oft great scathe to the realm of Harald the King, and was called Solvi Klofi.
After that, Harald the King laid under him Southmere. Vemund, brother of King Audbiorn, held the Firthfolk, and made himself king thereover.
These things befell late in autumn, and men counselled King Harald that he should not fare south about Stad these autumn-days. Then set King Harald Earl Rognvald2 over either Mere, and over Raumsdale. King Harald