Njála, 013: Difference between revisions

From WikiSaga
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
 
(6 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:


==Chapter 13==
==Chapter 13==
'''GLUM'S WOOING'''


Now three brothers are named in the story. One was called Thorarin, the second Ragi, and the third Glum. They were the sons of Olof the Halt, and were men of much worth and of great wealth in goods. Thorarin's surname was Ragi's brother; he had the Speakership of the Law after Rafn Heing's son. He was a very wise man, and lived at Varmalek, and he and Glum kept house together. Glum had been long abroad; he was a tall, strong, handsome man. Ragi their brother was a great manslayer. Those brothers owned in the south Engey and Laugarness. One day the brothers Thorarin and Glum were talking together, and Thorarin asked Glum whether he meant to go abroad, as was his wont?
Now three brothers are named in the story. One was called Thorarin, the second Ragi, and the third Glum. They were the sons of Olof the Halt, and were men of much worth and of great wealth in goods. Thorarin's surname was Ragi's brother; he had the Speakership of the Law after Rafn Heing's son. He was a very wise man, and lived at Varmalek, and he and Glum kept house together. Glum had been long abroad; he was a tall, strong, handsome man. Ragi their brother was a great manslayer. Those brothers owned in the south Engey and Laugarness. One day the brothers Thorarin and Glum were talking together, and Thorarin asked Glum whether he meant to go abroad, as was his wont?
Line 54: Line 52:
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."
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."


So Glum himself told her all about the bargain, and left nothing out, and then he asked Hauskuld and Hrut whether he had repeated it right. Hauskuld said he had; and then Hallgerda said, "Ye have dealt so well with me in this matter, my father and Hrut, that I will do what ye advise, and this bargain shall be struck as ye have settled it."
So Glum himself told her all about the bargain, and left nothing out, and then he asked Hauskuld and Hrut whether he had repeated it right. Hauskuld said he had; and then Hallgerda said, "Ye have dealt so well with me in this matter, my father and Hrut, that I will do what ye advise, and this bargain shall be struck as ye have settled it."<ref> '''as ye have settled it''': "It is likely that the author of ''Njal's Saga'' knew well that the procedure was improper but chose to deviate for dramatic effect. By permitting Hallgerd to speak the legal engagement formula of her own betrothal to Glum, the author of ''Njal's Saga'' discloses the full breadth of her independence, pride, and willfulness." [[Ordower, Henry. Exploring the Literary Function of Law and Litigation in "Njal's Saga."]] (p. 45). </ref>


Then Hrut said, "Methinks it were best that Hauskuld and I should name witnesses, and that Hallgerda should betroth herself, if the Lawman thinks that right and lawful.
Then Hrut said, "Methinks it were best that Hauskuld and I should name witnesses, and that Hallgerda should betroth herself, if the Lawman thinks that right and lawful.
Line 61: Line 59:


After that Hallgerda's goods were valued, and Glum was to lay down as much against them, and they were to go shares, half and half, in the whole. Then Glum bound himself to Hallgerda as his betrothed, and they rode away home south; but Hauskuld was to keep the wedding-feast at his house. And now all is quiet till men ride to the wedding.
After that Hallgerda's goods were valued, and Glum was to lay down as much against them, and they were to go shares, half and half, in the whole. Then Glum bound himself to Hallgerda as his betrothed, and they rode away home south; but Hauskuld was to keep the wedding-feast at his house. And now all is quiet till men ride to the wedding.


==References==
==References==
Line 125: Line 121:
Glúmur sagði henni sjálfur allan kaupmála og veik hvergi af og spurði þá Höskuld og Hrút hvort hann hermdi rétt. Höskuldur sagði svo vera.  
Glúmur sagði henni sjálfur allan kaupmála og veik hvergi af og spurði þá Höskuld og Hrút hvort hann hermdi rétt. Höskuldur sagði svo vera.  


Hallgerður mælti þá: „Svo vel sem þér hefir farið þetta mál til mín, faðir minn, og Hrúti að eg vil að ykkru ráði gera og skal það í kaupmála vera sem þið hafið stofnað.“  
Hallgerður mælti þá: „Svo vel sem þér hefir farið þetta mál til mín, faðir minn, og Hrúti að eg vil að ykkru ráði gera og skal það í kaupmála vera sem þið hafið stofnað.“<ref> '''sem þið hafið stofnað''': "It is likely that the author of ''Njal's Saga'' knew well that the procedure was improper but chose to deviate for dramatic effect. By permitting Hallgerd to speak the legal engagement formula of her own betrothal to Glum, the author of ''Njal's Saga'' discloses the full breadth of her independence, pride, and willfulness." [[Ordower, Henry. Exploring the Literary Function of Law and Litigation in "Njal's Saga."]] (s. 45). </ref>


Þá mælti Hrútur: „Það þykir mér ráð að við Höskuldur nefnum votta en Hallgerður festi sig sjálf ef lögmanni þykir það rétt.“  
Þá mælti Hrútur: „Það þykir mér ráð að við Höskuldur nefnum votta en Hallgerður festi sig sjálf ef lögmanni þykir það rétt.“  
Line 131: Line 127:
„Rétt er það,“ sagði Þórarinn.  
„Rétt er það,“ sagði Þórarinn.  


Síðan voru virð fé Hallgerðar og skyldi Glúmur leggja í móti jafnmikið og skyldi vera helmingarfélag með þeim. Síðan fastnaði Glúmur sér Hallgerði og riðu þeir suður heim en Höskuldur skyldi hafa boð inni. Er nú kyrrt þar til er menn ríða til boðs.  
Síðan voru virð fé Hallgerðar og skyldi Glúmur leggja í móti jafnmikið og skyldi vera helmingarfélag með þeim. Síðan fastnaði Glúmur sér Hallgerði og riðu þeir suður heim en Höskuldur skyldi hafa boð inni. Er nú kyrrt þar til er menn ríða til boðs.
 
 


==Tilvísanir==
==Tilvísanir==

Latest revision as of 19:21, 24 August 2016


Chapter 13

Now three brothers are named in the story. One was called Thorarin, the second Ragi, and the third Glum. They were the sons of Olof the Halt, and were men of much worth and of great wealth in goods. Thorarin's surname was Ragi's brother; he had the Speakership of the Law after Rafn Heing's son. He was a very wise man, and lived at Varmalek, and he and Glum kept house together. Glum had been long abroad; he was a tall, strong, handsome man. Ragi their brother was a great manslayer. Those brothers owned in the south Engey and Laugarness. One day the brothers Thorarin and Glum were talking together, and Thorarin asked Glum whether he meant to go abroad, as was his wont?

He answered, "I was rather thinking now of leaving off trading voyages."

"What hast thou then in thy mind? Wilt thou woo thee a wife?"

"That I will," says he, "if I could only get myself well matched."

Then Thorarin told off all the women who were unwedded in Borgarfirth, and asked him if he would have any of these, "Say the word, and I will ride with thee!"

But Glum answered, "I will have none of these."

"Say then the name of her thou wishest to have," says Thorarin.

Glum answered, "If thou must know, her name is Hallgerda, and she is Hauskuld's daughter away west in the dales."

"Well," says Thorarin, "'tis not with thee as the saw says, 'be warned by another's woe'; for she was wedded to a man, and she plotted his death."

Glum said, "Maybe such ill-luck will not befall her a second time, and sure I am she will not plot my death. But now, if thou wilt show me any honour, ride along with me to woo her."

Thorarin said, "There's no good striving against it, for what must be is sure to happen." Glum often talked the matter over with Thorarin, but he put it off a long time. At last it came about that they gathered men together and rode off ten in company, west to the dales, and came to Hauskuldstede. Hauskuld gave them a hearty welcome, and they stayed there that night. But early next morning, Hauskuld sends for Hrut, and he came thither at once: and Hauskuld was out of doors when he rode into the "town". Then Hauskuld told Hrut what men had come thither.

"What may it be they want?" asked Hrut.

"As yet," says Hauskuld, "they have not let out to me that they have any business."

"Still," says Hrut, "their business must be with thee. They will ask the hand of thy daughter, Hallgerda. If they do, what answer wilt thou make?"

"What dost thou advise me to say?" says Hauskuld.

"Thou shalt answer well," says Hrut; "but still make a clean breast of all the good and all the ill thou knowest of the woman."

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."

So Glum himself told her all about the bargain, and left nothing out, and then he asked Hauskuld and Hrut whether he had repeated it right. Hauskuld said he had; and then Hallgerda said, "Ye have dealt so well with me in this matter, my father and Hrut, that I will do what ye advise, and this bargain shall be struck as ye have settled it."[1]

Then Hrut said, "Methinks it were best that Hauskuld and I should name witnesses, and that Hallgerda should betroth herself, if the Lawman thinks that right and lawful.

"Right and lawful it is," says Thorarin.

After that Hallgerda's goods were valued, and Glum was to lay down as much against them, and they were to go shares, half and half, in the whole. Then Glum bound himself to Hallgerda as his betrothed, and they rode away home south; but Hauskuld was to keep the wedding-feast at his house. And now all is quiet till men ride to the wedding.

References

  1. as ye have settled it: "It is likely that the author of Njal's Saga knew well that the procedure was improper but chose to deviate for dramatic effect. By permitting Hallgerd to speak the legal engagement formula of her own betrothal to Glum, the author of Njal's Saga discloses the full breadth of her independence, pride, and willfulness." Ordower, Henry. Exploring the Literary Function of Law and Litigation in "Njal's Saga." (p. 45).

Kafli 13

Bræður þrír eru nefndir til sögunnar. Hét einn Þórarinn, annar Ragi, þriðji Glúmur. Þeir voru synir Ólafs halta og voru virðingamenn miklir og vel auðgir að fé. Þórarinn átti það kenningarnafn að hann var kallaður Ragabróðir. Hann hafði lögsögu eftir Hrafn Hængsson. Hann var stórvitur maður. Hann bjó að Varmalæk og áttu þeir Glúmur bú saman. Glúmur hafði verið lengi í förum. Hann var mikill maður og sterkur og fríður sýnum. Ragi var vígamaður mikill, bróðir þeirra. Þeir bræður áttu suður Engey og Laugarnes.

Þeir bræður töluðu þá, Glúmur og Þórarinn, og spurði Þórarinn Glúm hvort hann ætlaði utan sem hann var vanur.

Hann svaraði: „Hitt hafði eg heldur nú ætlað að hætta kaupferðum.“

„Hvað er þér þá í skapi? Vilt þú biðja þér konu?“

„Það vil eg,“ sagði hann, „ef eg gæti vel fyrir mér séð.“

Þá taldi Þórarinn upp konur þær sem voru í Borgarfirði ógiftar og spurði ef hann vildi „nokkura þessa eiga og mun eg ríða til með þér.“

Hann svaraði: „Öngva vil eg þessa eiga.“

„Nefndu þá að því er þú vilt eiga,“ segir Þórarinn.

Glúmur svaraði: „Ef þú vilt það vita þá heitir hún Hallgerður og er dóttir Höskulds í Dölum vestur.“

„Eigi er nú það sem mælt er að þú látir þér annars víti að varnaði og var hún gift manni og réð hún þeim bana,“ sagði Þórarinn.

Glúmur mælti: „Má að hana hendi eigi slík ógifta í annað sinn. Og veit eg víst að hún ræður eigi mér bana. En ef þú vilt mér nokkura sæmd veita þá ríð þú til með mér að biðja hennar.“

Þórarinn mælti: „Ekki mun mega við gera. Það mun verða fram að koma sem ætlað er.“

Oft kom Glúmur að um þetta mál við Þórarin en hann fór lengi undan. En þar kom um síðir að þeir söfnuðu að sér mönnum og riðu tuttugu saman vestur til Dala og komu á Höskuldsstaði og tók Höskuldur við þeim vel og voru þeir þar um nóttina. En snemma um morguninn sendir Höskuldur eftir Hrúti og kom hann þangað og var Höskuldur úti er hann reið í tún. Höskuldur segir Hrúti hvað þar var komið manna.

„Hvað munu þeir vilja?“ sagði Hrútur.

„Engi hafa þeir erindi enn upp borið fyrir mig,“ sagði Höskuldur.

„Við þig munu þó vera erindin,“ segir Hrútur. „Þeir munu biðja Hallgerðar dóttur þinnar eða hversu munt þú svara?“

„Hvað þykir þér ráð?“ sagði Höskuldur.

„Vel skalt þú svara og segja þó kost og löst á konunni,“ segir Hrútur.

En í þessu tali þeirra bræðra ganga þeir út, gestirnir. Höskuldur fagnar þeim vel. Hrútur kvaddi og Þórarin og þá báða bræður.

Síðan gengu þeir allir samt á tal og mælti Þórarinn: „Eg er kominn hingað með Glúmi bróður mínum þess erindis að biðja Hallgerðar dóttur þinnar, Höskuldur, til handa Glúmi bróður mínum. Skalt þú það vita að hann er vel mannaður.“

„Veit eg það,“ sagði Höskuldur, „að þið eruð mikils háttar menn báðir. En eg vil og segja þér í móti að eg réð ráði hennar fyrri og varð oss það að mikilli ógæfu.“

Þórarinn svaraði: „Ekki munum vér það láta fyrir kaupum standa því að eigi skal einn eiður alla verða. Og má þetta verða þótt hitt yrði illa enda spillti Þjóstólfur þar mest um.“

Þá mælti Hrútur: „Gefa mundi eg yður til ráð ef þér viljið eigi þetta láta fyrir ráðum standa er áður hefir orðið um hagi Hallgerðar, að Þjóstólfur fari ekki suður með henni þótt ráðin takist og veri þar aldrei þrem nóttum lengur, nema Glúmur lofi, en falli óheilagur fyrir Glúmi ef hann er lengur, en heimilt á Glúmur að lofa það, en ekki er það mitt ráð. Skal nú og eigi svo fram fara sem fyrr að Hallgerður sé leynd. Skal hún nú vita allan þenna kaupmála og sjá Glúm og ráða sjálf hvort hún vill eiga hann eða eigi og megi hún eigi öðrum kenna þótt eigi verði vel. Skal þetta vélalaust vera.“

Þórarinn mælti: „Nú er jafnan að það mun best gegna að þín ráð séu höfð.“

Þá var sent eftir Hallgerði og kom hún þangað og tvær konur með henni. Hún hafði yfir sér vefjarmöttul blán og var undir í skarlatskyrtli og silfurbelti um sig en hárið tók ofan á bringuna tveim megin og drap hún undir belti sér. Hún settist niður í milli þeirra Hrúts og föður síns. Hún kvaddi þá alla góðum orðum og mælti vel og skörulega og spurði tíðinda. Síðan hætti hún að tala.

Glúmur mælti: „Um kaup vor föður þíns höfum við Þórarinn bróðir minn talað nokkuð að eg mundi fá þín, Hallgerður, ef það er þinn vilji sem þeirra. Munt þú nú segja ef þú ert skörungur hvort það er nokkuð nær þínu skapi. En ef þér er nokkuð um hug á kaupum við oss þá viljum vér ekki um tala.“

Hallgerður mælti: „Veit eg að þið eruð mikils háttar menn, bræður, og veit eg að eg mun nú miklu betur gefin en fyrr. En vita vil eg hvað þér hafið um talað eða hve mjög þér hafið fram mælt málinu. En svo líst mér á þig að eg mun þér vel unnandi verða ef við komum skapi saman.“

Glúmur sagði henni sjálfur allan kaupmála og veik hvergi af og spurði þá Höskuld og Hrút hvort hann hermdi rétt. Höskuldur sagði svo vera.

Hallgerður mælti þá: „Svo vel sem þér hefir farið þetta mál til mín, faðir minn, og Hrúti að eg vil að ykkru ráði gera og skal það í kaupmála vera sem þið hafið stofnað.“[1]

Þá mælti Hrútur: „Það þykir mér ráð að við Höskuldur nefnum votta en Hallgerður festi sig sjálf ef lögmanni þykir það rétt.“

„Rétt er það,“ sagði Þórarinn.

Síðan voru virð fé Hallgerðar og skyldi Glúmur leggja í móti jafnmikið og skyldi vera helmingarfélag með þeim. Síðan fastnaði Glúmur sér Hallgerði og riðu þeir suður heim en Höskuldur skyldi hafa boð inni. Er nú kyrrt þar til er menn ríða til boðs.

Tilvísanir

  1. sem þið hafið stofnað: "It is likely that the author of Njal's Saga knew well that the procedure was improper but chose to deviate for dramatic effect. By permitting Hallgerd to speak the legal engagement formula of her own betrothal to Glum, the author of Njal's Saga discloses the full breadth of her independence, pride, and willfulness." Ordower, Henry. Exploring the Literary Function of Law and Litigation in "Njal's Saga." (s. 45).

Links