Njála, 001

Chapter 1

OF FIDDLE MORD

There was a man named Mord whose surname was Fiddle; he was the son of Sigvat the Red, and he dwelt at the "Vale" in the Rangrivervales. He was a mighty chief, and a great taker up of suits, and so great a lawyer that no judgments were thought lawful unless he had a hand in them. He had an only daughter, named Unna. She was a fair, courteous, and gifted woman, and that was thought the best match in all the Rangrivervales.

Now the story turns westward to the Broadfirth dales, where, at Hauskuldstede, in Laxriverdale, dwelt a man named Hauskuld, who was Dalakoll's son, and his mother's name was Thorgerda.(1) He had a brother named Hrut, who dwelt at Hrutstede; he was of the same mother as Hauskuld, but his father's name was Heriolf. Hrut was handsome, tall and strong, well skilled in arms, and mild of temper; he was one of the wisest of men--stern towards his foes, but a good counsellor on great matters. It happened once that Hauskuld bade his friends to a feast, and his brother Hrut was there, and sat next him. Hauskuld had a daughter named Hallgerda, who was playing on the floor with some other girls. She was fair of face and tall of growth, and her hair was as soft as silk; it was so long, too, that it came down to her waist. Hauskuld called out to her, "Come hither to me, daughter." So she went up to him, and he took her by the chin, and kissed her; and after that she went away.

Then Hauskuld said to Hrut, "What dost thou think of this maiden? Is she not fair?" Hrut held his peace. Hauskuld said the same thing to him a second time, and then Hrut answered, "Fair enough is this maid, and many will smart for it, but this I know not, whence thief's eyes have come into our race." Then Hauskuld was wroth, and for a time the brothers saw little of each other.

ENDNOTES:

(1) Thorgerda was daughter of Thorstein the Red who was Olaf the White's son, Ingialld's son, Helgi's son. Ingialld's mother was Thora, daughter of Sigurd Snake-i'-the-eye, who was Ragnar Hairybreek's son. And the Deeply-wealthy was Thorstein the Red's mother; she was daughter of Kettle Flatnose, who was Bjorn Boun's son, Grim's son, Lord of Sogn in Norway.

Kafli 1

Mörður hét maður er kallaður var gígja. Hann var sonur Sighvats hins rauða. Hann bjó á Velli á Rangárvöllum. Hann var ríkur höfðingi og málafylgjumaður mikill og svo mikill lagamaður að engir þóttu löglegir dómar nema hann væri í. Hann átti dóttur eina er Unnur hét. Hún var væn kona og kurteis og vel að sér og þótti sá bestur kostur á Rangárvöllum.

Nú víkur sögunni vestur til Breiðafjarðardala. Maður er nefndur Höskuldur. Hann var Dala-Kollsson. Móðir hans hét Þorgerður og var dóttir Þorsteins hins rauða, Ólafssonar hins hvíta, Ingjaldssonar, Helgasonar. Móðir Ingjalds var Þóra, dóttir Sigurðar orms í auga, Ragnarssonar loðbrókar. Unnur hin djúpúðga var móðir Þorsteins rauðs, dóttir Ketils flatnefs, Bjarnarsonar bunu, Grímssonar hersis úr Sogni. Höskuldur bjó á Höskuldsstöðum í Laxárdal.

Hrútur hét bróðir hans. Hann bjó á Hrútsstöðum. Hann var sammæður við Höskuld. Faðir hans var Herjólfur. Hrútur var vænn maður, mikill og sterkur, vígur vel og hógvær í skapi, manna vitrastur, hagráður við vini sína en tillagagóður hinna stærri mála.

Það var einhverju sinni að Höskuldur hafði vinaboð og þar var Hrútur bróðir hans og sat hið næsta honum. Höskuldur átti sér dóttur er Hallgerður hét. Hún lék sér á gólfinu við aðrar meyjar. Hún var fríð sýnum og mikil vexti og hárið svo fagurt sem silki og svo mikið að það tók ofan á belti.

Höskuldur kallar á hana: „Farðu hingað til mín,“ sagði hann.

Hún gekk þegar til hans. Hann tók undir kverkina og kyssti hana. Síðan gekk hún í braut.

Þá ræddi Höskuldur til Hrúts: „Hversu líst þér á mey þessa, þykir þér eigi fögur vera?“

Hrútur þagði við. Höskuldur mælti til hans í annað sinn.

Hrútur svaraði þá: „Ærið fögur er mær sjá og munu margir þess gjalda. En hitt veit eg eigi hvaðan þjófsaugu eru komin í ættir vorar.“

Þá reiddist Höskuldur og var fátt um með þeim bræðrum nokkura hríð.

Bræður Hallgerðar voru þeir Þorleikur, faðir Bolla, og Ólafur, faðir Kjartans, og Bárður.