The Story of Burnt Njal: The Great Icelandic Tribune, Jurist, and Counsellor — John Shaqi
The Story of Burnt Njal: The Great Icelandic Tribune, Jurist, and CounsellorDasent, George Webbe, Sir
General
The Story of Burnt Njal: The Great Icelandic Tribune, Jurist, and Counsellor
Dasent, George Webbe, Sir
Njáll Þorgursson, approximately 930-1011
But while the brothers were talking thus, out came the guests.
Hauskuld greeted them well, and Hrut bade both Thorarin and his
brothers good morning. After that they all began to talk, and
Thorarin said, "I am come hither, Hauskuld, with my brother Glum
on this errand, to ask for Hallgerda thy daughter, at the hand of
my brother Glum. Thou must know that he is a man of worth."
"I know well," says Hauskuld, "that ye are both of you powerful
and worthy men; but I must tell you right out, that I chose a
husband for her before, and that turned out most unluckily for
us."
Thorarin answered, "We will not let that stand in the way of the
bargain; for one oath shall not become all oaths, and this may
prove to be a good match, though that turned out ill; besides
Thiostolf had most hand in spoiling it."
Then Hrut spoke: "Now I will give you a bit of advice -- this: if
ye will not let all this that has already happened to Hallgerda
stand in the way of the match, mind you do not let Thiostolf go
south with her if the match comes off, and that he is never there
longer than three nights at a time, unless Glum gives him leave,
but fall an outlaw by Glum's hand without atonement if he stay
there longer. Of course, it shall be in Glum's power to give him
leave; but he will not if he takes my advice. And now this match
shall not be fulfilled, as the other was, without Hallgerda's
knowledge. She shall now know the whole course of this bargain,
and see Glum, and herself settle whether she will have him or
not; and then she will not be able to lay the blame on others if
it does not turn out well. And all this shall be without craft
or guile."
Then Thorarin said, "Now, as always, it will prove best if thy
advice be taken."
Then they sent for Hallgerda, and she came thither, and two women
with her. She had on a cloak of rich blue woof, and under it a
scarlet kirtle, and a silver girdle round her waist, but her hair
came down on both sides of her bosom, and she had turned the
locks up under her girdle. She sat down between Hrut and her
father, and she greeted them all with kind words, and spoke well
and boldly, and asked what was the news. After that she ceased
speaking.
Then Glum said, "There has been some talk between thy father and
my brother Thorarin and myself about a bargain. It was that I
might get thee, Hallgerda, if it be thy will, as it is theirs;
and now, if thou art a brave woman, thou wilt say right out
whether the match is at all to thy mind; but if thou hast
anything in thy heart against this bargain with us, then we will
not say anything more about it."
Hallgerda said, "I know well that you are men of worth and might,
ye brothers. I know too that now I shall be much better wedded
than I was before; but what I want to know is, what you have said
already about the match, and how far you have given your words in
the matter. But so far as I now see of thee, I think I might
love thee well if we can but hit it off as to temper."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account