Complete Works of William Morris, page 615
And now Sigurd began to think much of Helga, though he said but little to her.
And they knew nought of Thorgrim’s sons.
But on a time got Gunnlaug a-talking with Sigurd his brother, and said, “Were it not meet that we should seek revenge on Thorgrim, for certes we may have a right good chance against him?”
Sigurd answered: “It had been better unspoken; for thus meseems should I reward good with evil, if I were to slay the man who has taken me from shipwreck; and in every wise doth better and better to me: nay, rather would I defend him than do him a mischief if it should come to such a pass.”
So they made an end of talking, and Gunnlaug never got on this talk again with Sigurd. So the winter wears, and those brethren let array their ship, being desirous to be ready to depart against summer-tide.
And some men would be saying that things went sweetly between Helga and Sigurd; howbeit, it was scarce known openly to all folk.
CHAPTER XVII. THE PARTING OF VIGLUND AND KETILRIA.
NOW turns the tale to Earl Eric, who became an old man, and died of eld; but Sigmund his son took his possessions after him, but gat no dignity from King Harald, because the King bore all the kin of Thorgrim something of a grudge for his friendship’s sake with Ketil.
Helgi had wedded in Norway, but his wife was dead before the tale gets so far as this: he had a daughter called Ragnhild, the fairest of women. So Helgi was weary of Norway, and went to Iceland, and came thither late in the land-settling time, and bought land in Gautwick of that Gaut who had settled the land there; and there he dwelt till old age.
Now tells the tale of more folk: Steinolf, to wit, who dwelt in Hraundale, who had a son hight Thorleif, a big man and a proper. This Thorleif wooed Ketilrid, but she would nought of him. Then Thorleif made many words about it, to the end that he should get her, howsoever she might gainsay it; and Thorbiorg was utterly of his way of thinking.
But now, when Thorgrim’s sons were clean healed of their hurts, they asked their father what he would counsel them to do. He said, “I deem it good rede for you to take berth in the ship of the brethren Gunnlaug and Sigurd, and pray a passage of them over the Iceland sea, saying that your lives lie thereon, as the sooth is, keeping your names hidden meanwhile. Then shall Sigurd keep to his oath, and grant you passage: for this Sigurd is a good man and true, and ye will get but good at his hands: and soothly ye will need it, for over there ye will have to answer for me.”
So it was settled that this was to be done. Men say that Ketilrid was weighed down with sorrow that winter; that oft she slept little, and sat awake in her sewing-bower night-long. But that same night before the day whenas Viglund should fare to the ship, for now Ketil’s sons were all ready for sea, Viglund and Trusty went to Foss, and into the chamber whereas sat Ketilrid awake, while her handmaids slept.
Sweetly she welcomed the brethren. “It is long since we met,” said she; “but right good it is that ye are whole and about on your feet again.”
So the two brethren sat down beside her, and talked a long while; and Viglund told her all he was minded to do, and she was glad thereat .
“All is right well,” she said, “so long as thou art well, howsoever it fare with me.”
“Let thyself not be wedded whiles I am away,” said Viglund.
“My father must rule that,” she said, “for I have no might herein; moreover, I will not be against him: but belike it will be no happier for me than for thee, if things go otherwise: yet all must needs go its own ways.”
Then Viglund bade her cut his hair and wash his head, and she did so; and when it was done, Viglund said: “This I swear, that none shall cut my hair or wash my head but thou only while thou art alive.”
Then they all went out together, and parted without in the home-mead: and Viglund kissed Ketilrid weeping sore; and it was well seen of them, that their hearts were sore to part thus: but so must it be: and she went into her bower, but they went on their way.
And Viglund, or ever he parted from Ketilrid, sang this stave: —
“Maiden, my songs remember,
Fair mouth, if thou mayst learn them;
For, clasp-mead, they may gain thee
At whiles some times beguiling.
Most precious, when thou wendest
Abroad, where folk are gathered,
Me, O thou slender isle-may,
Each time shalt thou remember.”
But when they were come a little way from the garth Viglund sang another stave: —
“Amid the town we twain stood,
And there she wound around me
Her hands, the hawk-eyed woman,
The fair-haired, greeting sorely.
Fast fell tears from the maiden,
And sorrow told of longing;
Her cloth the drift-white dear one
Over bright brows was drawing.”
A little after, when Ketilrid came into her bower, thither came the goodman Holmkel, and saw his daughter weeping sorely: then he asked her why she was so sleepless: but for all answer she sang: —
“A little way I led him,
The lord of sheen, from green garth;
But farther than all faring,
My heart it followeth after. Yea, longer had I led him,
If land lay off the haven,
And all the waste of AEgir
Were into green meads waxen.”
Then spake Ketilrid and answered her father: “My brothers’ death was in my mind.”
“Wilt thou have them avenged?” said he.
“That should be soon seen,” she said, “if I were as much a man and of might in matters, as I am now but a woman.”
The goodman said: “Daughter, know in good sooth, that it is for thy sake that I have done nought against those brethren; for I wot well that they are alive: so come now, hide not from me how thou wouldest have the matter go; for I will get them slain if that is thy will.”
“So far from having them slain,” said she, “if I might rule, I would never have made them outlaws if I might have ruled; and, moreover, I would have given them money for their journey if I had had it; and never would I have any other but Viglund, if I might choose.”
Then Holmkel arose and went forth, and took his horse and rode after the brethren. But when they saw him, then said Trusty, “There rideth Holmkel alone; and if thou wilt get Ketilrid, there is one thing to be
done — nought good though it be — to slay Holmkel and carry off Ketilrid.”
Said Viglund: “Though it were on the board that I should never see Ketilrid from this time henceforward, yet rather would I have it so than that I do Holmkel any hurt, and forget the trustiness he hath dealt me withal, when he hath had such sorrow to pay me back for: yea, moreover, Ketilrid hath grief enow to bear though she see not her father slain, who hath ever wished all things good for her.”
“Yea, so it is best,” said Trusty.
“Now shall we,” said Viglund, “ride into our home-mead to meet him, for the increasing of his honour.”
They did so: but Holmkel rode on past them and then turned back: so the brethren went back to the road, and found money there, and a gold ring, and a rune-staff: and on the rune-staff were cut all those words of Ketilrid and Holmkel, and this withal, that she gave that money to Viglund.
CHAPTER XVIII. THE SONS OF THORGRIM FARE OUT FROM ICELAND.
THEREAFTER they went to the ship, and Gunnlaug and his brother were ready for sea, and the wind blowing off shore: so Viglund hailed the ship, and asked whether Gunnlaug were aboard, and whether he would give them passage over the Iceland seas. He asked who they were: they said one was named Troubleman, and the other Hardfellow. Then Gunnlaug asked what dragged them toward the outlands; and they said, very fear for their lives. So he bade them come out to the ship, and they did so. Then they hoisted sail, and sailed out to sea; and when they had made some way Gunnlaug said, “Big fellow, why art thou named Troubleman?”
“Well,” said he, “I am called Troubleman, because I have troubles enough and to spare of my own; but I am also called Viglund, and my brother here is Trusty, and we are the sons of Thorgrim the Proud.”
Then Gunnlaug was silent, but spake at last:— “What do we, brother Sigurd?” said he; “for now have we a hard matter to get out of, seeing that I wot well that Ketil our father will let slay them as soon as they come to Norway.”
Said Sigurd: “Thou didst not ask me this when thou tookest them in; but I knew Viglund when I saw him, by Helga his sister. But meseems thou hast might to bring it about that our father Ketil have no more power over them than thou wilt; and a most meet reward will that be for that wherein Thorgrim has done well to us.”
“It is well spoken,” said Gunnlaug: “let us do so.”
Now they had a fair wind and made Norway, and fared home to Raumsdale, and Ketil was from home; and when he came home, there were his sons in the hall, with Thorgrim’s sons sitting in their midst; and they were a company of four-and-twenty.
Now they greeted not their father when he set him down in the high seat; but he knew his sons, but not the sons of Thorgrim: so he asked why they greeted him not, or who the stranger men were.
And Sigurd said: “One is called Viglund, and the other Trusty, the sons of Thorgrim the Proud.”
Said Ketil: “Stand up, all ye my men, and take them! And I would that Thorgrim the Proud also were come hither; and then should they all fare by one road.”
Sigurd the Sage answered and said: “Great is the difference between us here and Thorgrim the Proud; for he took us brethren from shipwreck, and did to us ever better and better, when he had us utterly at his will: but thou wilt slay his sons sackless: and belike, good fellows, we may do you a mischief before Thorgrim’s sons be slain: and one fate shall be over us all.”
Then Ketil says that it is unmeet for him to fight against his own sons, and the wrath runs off him.
Then spake Sigurd: “This is my counsel, that my brother Gunnlaug take the whole matter in hand, for he is well proven in rightfulness.”
“Well, it must be so,” said Ketil, “rather than that we, father and sons, begin an ill strife together.”
So this was settled to be; and Gunnlaug spake: “This is my doom: Thorgrim shall keep the woman himself; but withal she shall forego the heritage of Earl Thorir her father, and my father shall duly take the said heritage; and my father shall give his daughter Ingibiorg to Trusty, Thorgrim’s son; and Sigurd the Sage shall wed Helga, Thorgrim’s daughter. And this my doom I hold to firmly.”
All thought it done well and wisely, and Ketil was well pleased with matters having come hereto.
So there they abode in good entertainment, the winter through, and Trusty wedded Ingibiorg: but in the summer they went a-warring, all the foster-brethren together, and became the most renowned of men, but Viglund bare away the prize from them all: and they were close upon three winters in this warfare.
But Viglund was never in more joyous mood than at the first; for Ketilrid was never out of his mind.
CHAPTER XIX. THE WEDDING OF KETILRID.
NOW must the story be taken up, whereas goodman Holmkel sat at home at Foss. And on a day he rode to Ingialdsknoll, and no man knew what he spake to Thorgrim: and thereafter he went home. Still Thorleif Steinolfson was importunate in the wooing of Ketilrid; but she was slow enough over it.
A little after Thorgrim sent three of his men from home, and they were away three weeks, and when they came home none knew what their errand had been.
Now this befell one day at Foss, that thither came thirty men. Holmkel asked their leader to name himself; and he said he was called Thord, and had his abode in the Eastfirths, and that his errand thither was the wooing of Ketilrid. The goodman put the matter before his daughter, and she was asked thereof, and she said it was as far as might be from her mind, for she deemed the man old, and she said she had no heart to be wedded at all.
Thorbiorg was exceeding eager that the bargain should be struck, and the end of it was, that Holmkel betrothed her to Thord, whether she were lieve or loth; and she went away with Thord at once, and the wedding was to be in the Eastfirths. So they made no stay till they got home, and Ketilrid took the rule of all things there; yet men never saw her glad.
But Thord wedded her not; they both lay in one bed, but in such wise that there was a curtain between them.
So wore away a long space.
Thorleif was ill content that Ketilrid was wedded; but thought it not easy to do aught, whereas she was a long way off.
Thord did well to Ketilrid in all wise, but no gain that seemed to Ketilrid, because of the love she had for Viglund: for ever she bare about the flame of desire in her breast for his sake.
CHAPTER XX. VIGLUND COMES OUT TO ICELAND AGAIN.
VIGLUND and all the foster-brethren came home that summer from warfare, and Ketil gave them good welcome.
On a day were folk called to head-washing, but Viglund answered thereto: “Nay, I will have nought of this head-washing, nor have I since we parted, Ketilrid and I.” Then he sang a stave:
“The linen-oak bath-lovely
Laid last on me the lather:
So nought have I to hurry
Unto another head-bath.
And me no more shall any
Gold-glittering of the maidens
Henceforth, in all my life-days,
In ashen bath bewash me.”
Nor would Viglund let himself be bathed.
So there they abode in peace that winter; but in summer they made ready for Iceland, each company in their own ship; so they sailed into the sea, and parted company at sea; and Ketil’s sons made White-water, and went to quarters at Ingialdsknoll, and told Thorgrim of the peace made twixt him and Ketil, and also that his sons were soon to be looked for: and Thorgrim was glad at all these things. But Viglund and his brother sailed on till they saw Snowfell-Jokul; then sang Viglund a stave:
“Behold the hill whereunder
My bond of love high-hearted,
My well-beloved one sitteth:
Lo love’s eyes turn I to her.
Sweet, sing I of the gold-brent,
The proud by proud that sitteth.
O hill-side among hill-sides,
Beloved, if any have been!”
And again he sang:
“Leek-bearer, bright the looking
Over the heaths sun-litten,
The sun sinks slow thereunder:
How sore I long to be there!
Lovesome she makes the mountains;
Sweet, therefore must I hush me:
The goodliest goddess have I
To greet, who sits thereunder.”
And therewith there came a wind down from the ness so great, that they drave out into the sea; and a west wind fell on them, and the weather became exceeding stormy, and men must ever stand a-baling. And on a day, as Viglund sat on the bulk amid weather of the roughest, he sang:
“Ketilrid her carle bade
Quail not mid swift sailing,
Though the beat of billows
Overbore the foredeck.
Still her word is with me,
Be we wight now, Trusty!
Stormy heart of sorrow
I have for Ketilrid.”
“A mighty matter, forsooth,” said Trusty, “whenas thou must needs name her first and last in thy singing.”
“Yea, kinsman, thinkest thou so?” said Viglund.
So they were out at sea many days, and at last amid great danger and pain made Gautwick in the Eastfirths.
Then said Viglund, “Whereas we have a feud on us, methinks it were well, brother, that thou shouldst call thyself Raven, and I should call myself Erne.”
So the goodman from the stead of Gautwick came to the ship; and the shipmen gave him good welcome, and bade him take what he would of the lading. The goodman said he had a young wife. “She,” quoth he, “shall come to the ship and take of your lading what she will.” So the goodman rode home now, and the mistress came thither the next morning; and she knew Viglund as soon as she saw him, but made little of it; but Viglund was much astonied when he knew her.
So she took what she would of the lading, for all things were at her will.
The bonder had bidden the ship-masters home, and when they came thither, the master and mistress went to meet them: then stumbled the goodman, for he was stiff with eld: then the mistress said, somewhat under her breath, “An evil mate is an old man.”
“It was so slippery, though,” said the master.
So they were brought in with all honour . but Viglund deemed that Ketilrid knew him not. But she sang : —
“The fight-grove of Van’s fire,
The fair, I knew at even —
Marvel that he would meet me!
I knew gold-master Trusty.
The ship of gold all slender
To such an one is wedded,
That ne’er another older
In all the world one findeth.”
So they abode there that winter, and Viglund was exceeding heavy-hearted, but Trusty as blithe as might be, and the goodman exceeding blithe, who served them with all kindness.
But it is told that Ketilrid had a veil ever before her face, for she would not that Viglund should know her, and that Viglund also for his part was not all so sure that it was she.
CHAPTER XXI. GUESTING AT GAUTWICK.
ON a day Ketilrid was standing without, and she was exceeding warm, and had rent the veil from her face: and in that nick of time Viglund came out and saw her visage clearly; and thereat was he much astonied, and flushed red as blood. He went into the hall, wherein was Trusty sitting, who asked him what was toward and what he had seen that he was so changed. Then Viglund sang a stave : —
“Nought shall I say thee lie now:
Ne’er saw I eyen sweeter
Since when we twain were sundered,
O sweet one of the worm-lair.
