Complete Works of William Morris, page 573
Hast thou heart to leave me then,
Fair-limbed gladdener of great men?”
The handmaid shrieked out, but in such wise did they part that she laid no blame on Grettir when all was over.
A little after, Grettir arose, and went to Thorvald the goodman, and told him of his trouble, and prayed bring him out; so did he, and lent him a boat, and brought him out, and Grettir thanked him well for his manliness.
But when it was heard that Grettir had swam a sea-mile, all deemed his prowess both on sea and land to be marvellous.
Those of Skagafirth had many words to say against Thorbiorn Angle, in that he drave not Grettir away from Drangey, and said they would take back each his own share; but he said he found the task no easy one, and prayed them be good to him, and abide awhile.
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CHAP. LXXVIII.
Of Haring at Drangey, and the end of him.
That same summer a ship came to the Gangpass-mouth, and therein was a man called Haering — a young man he was, and so lithe that there was no cliff that he might not climb. He went to dwell with Thorbiorn Angle, and was there on into the autumn; and he was ever urging Thorbiorn to go to Drangey, saying that he would fain see whether the cliffs were so high that none might come up them. Thorbiorn said that he should not work for nought if he got up into the island, and slew Grettir, or gave him some wound; and withal he made it worth coveting to Haering. So they fared to Drangey, and set the eastman ashore in a certain place, and he was to set on them unawares if he might come up on to the island, but they laid their keel by the ladders, and fell to talking with Grettir; and Thorbiorn asked him if he were minded now to leave the place; but he said that to nought was his mind so made up as to stay there.
“A great game hast thou played with us,” said Thorbiorn; “but thou seemest not much afeard for thyself.”
Thus a long while they gave and took in words, and came nowise together hereon.
But of Haering it is to be told that he climbed the cliffs, going on the right hand and the left, and got up by such a road as no man has gone by before or since; but when he came to the top of the cliff, he saw where the brothers stood, with their backs turned toward him, and thought in a little space to win both goods and great fame; nor were they at all aware of his ways, for they deemed that no man might come up, but there whereas the ladders were. Grettir was talking with Thorbiorn, nor lacked there words of the biggest on either side; but withal Illugi chanced to look aside, and saw a man drawing anigh them.
Then he said, “Here comes a man at us, with axe raised aloft, and in right warlike wise he seems to fare.”
“Turn thou to meet him,” says Grettir, “but I will watch the ladders.”
So Illugi turned to meet Haering, and when the eastman saw him, he turned and fled here and there over the island. Illugi chased him while the island lasted, but when he came forth on to the cliff’s edge Haering leapt down thence, and every bone in him was broken, and so ended his life; but the place where he was lost has been called Haering’s-leap ever since.
Illugi came back, and Grettir asked how he had parted from this one who had doomed them to die.
“He would have nought to do,” says Illugi, “with my seeing after his affairs, but must needs break his neck over the rock; so let the bonders pray for him as one dead.”
So when Angle heard that, he bade his folk make off. “Twice have I fared to meet Grettir, but no third time will I go, if I am nought the wiser first; and now belike they may sit in Drangey as for me; but in my mind it is, that Grettir will abide here but a lesser time than heretofore.”
With that they went home, and men deemed this journey of theirs worser than the first, and Grettir abode that winter in Drangey, nor in that season did he and Thorbiorn meet again.
In those days died Skapti Thorodson the Lawman, and great scathe was that to Grettir, for he had promised to busy himself about his acquittal as soon as he had been twenty winters in outlawry, and this year, of which the tale was told e’en now, was the nineteenth year thereof.
In the spring died Snorri the Godi, and many matters befell in that season that come not into this story.
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CHAP. LXXIX.
Of the Talk at the Thing about Grettir’s Outlawry.
That summer, at the Althing, the kin of Grettir spake many things concerning his outlawry, and some deemed he had outworn the years thereof, if he had come at all into the twentieth year; but they who had blood-suits against him would not have it so, and said, that he had done many an outlaw’s deed since he was first outlawed, and deemed his time ought to last longer therefor.
At that time was a new lawman made, Stein, the son of Thorgest, the son of Stein the Far-sailing, the son of Thorir Autumn-mirk; the mother of Stein was Arnora, the daughter of Thord the Yeller; and Stein was a wise man.
Now was he prayed for the word of decision; and he bade them search and see whether this were the twentieth summer since Grettir was made an outlaw, and thus it seemed to be.
But then stood forth Thorir of Garth, and brought all into dispute again, for he found that Grettir had been one winter out here a sackless man, amidst the times of his outlawry, and then nineteen were the winters of his outlawry found to be. Then said the lawman that no one should be longer in outlawry than twenty winters in all, though he had done outlaw’s deeds in that time.
“But before that, I declare no man sackless.”
Now because of this was the acquittal delayed for this time, but it was thought a sure thing that he would be made sackless the next summer. But that misliked the Skagafirthers exceeding ill, if Grettir were to come out of his outlawry, and they bade Thorbiorn Angle do one of two things, either give back the island or slay Grettir; but he deemed well that he had a work on his hands, for he saw no rede for the winning of Grettir, and yet was he fain to hold the island; and so all manner of craft he sought for the overcoming of Grettir, if he might prevail either by guile or hardihood, or in any wise soever.
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CHAP. LXXX.
Thorbiorn Angle goes with his Foster-mother out to Drangey.
Thorbiorn Angle had a foster-mother, Thurid by name, exceeding old, and meet for little, as folk deemed, very cunning she had been in many and great matters of lore, when she was young, and men were yet heathen; but men thought of her as of one, who had lost all that. But now, though Christ’s law were established in the land, yet abode still many sparks of heathendom. It had been law in the land, that men were not forbidden to sacrifice secretly, or deal with other lore of eld, but it was lesser outlawry if such doings oozed out. Now in such wise it fared with many, that hand for wont did yearn, and things grew handiest by time that had been learned in youth.
So now, whenas Thorbiorn Angle was empty of all plots, he sought for help there, whereas most folk deemed it most unlike that help was — at the hands of his foster-mother, in sooth, and asked, what counsel was in her therefor.
She answered, “Now belike matters have come to this, even as the saw says — To the goat-house for wool: but what could I do less than this, to think myself before folk of the country-side, but be a man of nought, whenso anything came to be tried? nor see I how I may fare worse than thou, though I may scarce rise from my bed. But if thou art to have my rede, then shall I have my will as to how and what things are done.”
He gave his assent thereto, and said that she had long been of wholesome counsel to him.
Now the time wore on to Twainmonth of summer; and one fair-weather day the carline spake to Angle,
“Now is the weather calm and bright, and I will now that thou fare to Drangey and pick a quarrel with Grettir; I shall go with thee, and watch how heedful he may be of his words; and if I see them, I shall have some sure token as to how far they are befriended of fortune, and then shall I speak over them such words as seem good to me.”
Angle answered, “Loth am I to be faring to Drangey, for ever am I of worser mind when I depart thence than when I come thereto.”
Then said the carline, “Nought will I do for thee if thou sufferest me to rule in no wise.”
“Nay, so shall it not be, foster-mother,” said he; “but so much have I said, as that I would so come thither the third time that somewhat should be made of the matter betwixt us.”
“The chance of that must be taken,” said the carline “and many a heavy labour must thou have, or ever Grettir be laid to earth; and oft will it be doubtful to thee what fortune thine shall be, and heavy troubles wilt thou get therefrom when that is done; yet art thou so bounden here-under, that to somewhat must thou make up thy mind.”
Thereafter Thorbiorn Angle let put forth a ten-oared boat, and he went thereon with eleven men, and the carline was in their company.
So they fell to rowing as the weather went, out to Drangey; and when the brothers saw that, they stood forth at the ladders, and they began to talk the matter over yet once more; and Thorbiorn said, that he was come yet again, to talk anew of their leaving the island, and that he would deal lightly with his loss of money and Grettir’s dwelling there, if so be they might part without harm. But Grettir said that he had no words to make atwixt and atween of his going thence.
“Oft have I so said,” says he, “and no need there is for thee to talk to me thereon; ye must even do as ye will, but here will I abide, whatso may come to hand.”
Now Thorbiorn deemed, that this time also his errand was come to nought, and he said,
“Yea, I deemed I knew with what men of hell I had to do; and most like it is that a day or two will pass away ere I come hither again.”
“I account that not in the number of my griefs, though thou never comest back,” said Grettir.
Now the carline lay in the stern, with clothes heaped up about and over her, and with that she moved, and said,
“Brave will these men be, and luckless withal; far hast thou outdone them in manliness; thou biddest them choice of many goodly things, but they say nay to all, and few things lead surer to ill, than not to know how to take good. Now this I cast over thee, Grettir, that thou be left of all health, wealth, and good-hap, all good heed and wisdom: yea, and that the more, the longer thou livest; good hope I have, Grettir, that thy days of gladness shall be fewer here in time to come than in the time gone by.”
Now when Grettir heard these words, he was astonied withal, and said, “What fiend is there in the boat with them?”
“Illugi answers, “I deem that it will be the carline, Thorbiorn’s foster-mother.”
“Curses on the witch-wight!” says Grettir, “nought worse could have been looked for; at no words have I shuddered like as I shuddered at those words she spake; and well I wot that from her, and her foul cunning, some evil will be brought on us; yet shall she have some token to mind her that she has sought us here.”
Therewithal he caught up a marvellous great stone, and cast it down on to the boat, and it smote that clothes-heap; and a longer stone-throw was that than Thorbiorn deemed any man might make; but therewithal a great shriek arose, for the stone had smitten the carline’s thigh, and broken it.
Then said Illugi, “I would thou hadst not done that!”
“Blame me not therefor,” said Grettir, “I fear me the stroke has been too little, for certes not overmuch weregild were paid for the twain of us, though the price should be one carline’s life.”
“Must she alone be paid?” said Illugi, “little enough then will be laid down for us twain.”
Now Thorbiorn got him gone homeward, with no greetings at parting. But he said to the carline,
“Now have matters gone as I thought, that a journey of little glory thou shouldst make to the island; thou hast got maimed, and honour is no nigher to us than before, yea, we must have bootless shame on bootless shame.”
She answered, “This will be the springing of ill-hap to them; and I deem that henceforth they are on the wane; neither do I fear if I live, but that I shall have revenge for this deed they have thus done me.”
“Stiff is thine heart, meseems, foster-mother,” said Thorbiorn. With that they came home, but the carline was laid in her bed, and abode there nigh a month; by then was the hurt thigh-bone grown together again, and she began to be afoot once more.
Great laughter men made at that journey of Thorbiorn and the carline, and deemed he had been often enow out-played in his dealings with Grettir: first, at the Spring-Thing in the peace handselling; next, when Haering was lost, and now again, this third time, when the carline’s thigh-bone was broken, and no stroke had been played against these from his part. But great shame and grief had Thorbiorn Angle from all these words.
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CHAP. LXXXI.
Of the Carline’s evil Gift to Grettir.
Now wore away the time of autumn till it wanted but three weeks of winter; then the carline bade bear her to the sea-shore. Thorbiorn asked what she would there.
“Little is my errand, yet maybe,” she says, “it is a foreboding of greater tidings.”
Now was it done as she bade, and when she came down to the strand, she went limping along by the sea, as if she were led thereto, unto a place where lay before her an uprooted tree, as big as a man might bear on his shoulder. She looked at the tree and bade them turn it over before her eyes, and on one side it was as if singed and rubbed; so there whereas it was rubbed she let cut a little flat space; and then she took her knife and cut runes on the root, and made them red with her blood, and sang witch-words over them; then she went backwards and widdershins round about the tree, and cast over it many a strong spell; thereafter she let thrust the tree forth into the sea, and spake in such wise over it, that it should drive out to Drangey, and that Grettir should have all hurt therefrom that might be. Thereafter she went back home to Woodwick; and Thorbiorn said that he knew not if that would come to aught; but the carline answered that he should wot better anon.
Now the wind blew landward up the firth, yet the carline’s root went in the teeth of the wind, and belike it sailed swifter than might have been looked for of it.
Grettir abode in Drangey with his fellows as is aforesaid, and in good case they were; but the day after the carline had wrought her witch-craft on the tree the brothers went down below the cliffs searching for firewood, so when they came to the west of the island, there they found that tree drifted ashore.
Then said Illugi, “A big log of firewood, kinsman, let us bear it home.”
Grettir kicked it with his foot and said, “An evil tree from evil sent; other firewood than this shall we have.”
Therewithal he cast it out into the sea, and bade Illugi beware of bearing it home, “For it is sent us for our ill-hap.” And therewith they went unto their abode, and said nought about it to the thrall. But the next day they found the tree again, and it was nigher to the ladders than heretofore; Grettir drave it out to sea, and said that it should never be borne home.
Now the days wore on into summer, and a gale came on with much wet, and the brothers were loth to be abroad, and bade Noise go search for firewood.
He took it ill, and said he was ill served in that he had to drudge and labour abroad in all the foulest weather; but withal he went down to the beach before the ladders and found the carline’s tree there, and deemed things had gone well because of it; so he took it up and bore it to the hut, and cast it down thereby with a mighty thump.
Grettir heard it and said, “Noise has got something, so I shall go out and see what it is.”
Therewithal he took up a wood-axe, and went out, and straightway Noise said,
“Split it up in as good wise as I have brought it home, then.”
Grettir grew short of temper with the thrall, and smote the axe with both hands at the log, nor heeded what tree it was; but as soon as ever the axe touched the wood, it turned flatlings and glanced off therefrom into Grettir’s right leg above the knee, in such wise that it stood in the bone, and a great wound was that. Then he looked at the tree and said,
“Now has evil heart prevailed, nor will this hap go alone, since that same tree has now come back to us that I have cast out to sea on these two days. But for thee, Noise, two slips hast thou had, first, when thou must needs let the fire be slaked, and now this bearing home of that tree of ill-hap; but if a third thou hast, thy bane will it be, and the bane of us all.”
With that came Illugi and bound up Grettir’s hurt, and it bled little, and Grettir slept well that night; and so three nights slipped by in such wise that no pain came of the wound, and when they loosed the swathings, the lips of the wound were come together so that it was well-nigh grown over again. Then said Illugi,
“Belike thou wilt have no long hurt of this wound.”
“Well were it then,” said Grettir, “but marvellously has this befallen, whatso may come of it; and my mind misgives me of the way things will take.”
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CHAP. LXXXII.
Grettir sings of his Great Deeds.
Now they lay them down that evening, but at midnight Grettir began to tumble about exceedingly. Illugi asked why he was so unquiet. Grettir said that his leg had taken to paining him, “And methinks it is like that some change of hue there be therein.”
Then they kindled a light, and when the swathings were undone, the leg showed all swollen and coal-blue, and the wound had broken open, and was far more evil of aspect than at first; much pain there went therewith so that he might not abide at rest in any wise, and never came sleep on his eyes.
Then spake Grettir, “Let us make up our minds to it, that this sickness which I have gotten is not done for nought, for it is of sorcery, and the carline is minded to avenge her of that stone.”
