Njála, 073

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Chapter 73

OF THE SUITS FOR MANSLAUGHTER AT THE THING.


These tidings were spread far and wide, and Thorgeir's death was a great grief to many a man. Gizur the White and his men rode to the spot and gave notice of the manslaughter, and called the neighbours on the inquest to the Thing. Then they rode home west.

Njal and Gunnar met and talked about the battle. Then Njal said to Gunnar, "Now be ware of thyself. Now hast thou slain twice in the same stock; and so now take heed to thy behaviour, and think that it is as much as thy life is worth, if thou dost not hold to the settlement that is made."

"Nor do I mean to break it in any way," says Gunnar, "but still I shall need thy help at the Thing."

"I will hold to my faithfulness to thee," said Njal, "till my death day."

Then Gunnar rides home. Now the Thing draws near; and each side gather a great company; and it is a matter of much talk at the Thing how these suits will end.

Those two, Gizur the White, and Geir the Priest, talked with each other as to who should give notice of the suit of manslaughter after Thorgeir, and the end of it was that Gizur took the suit on his hand, and gave notice of it at the Hill of Laws, and spoke in these words:--

"I gave notice of a suit for assault laid down by law against Gunnar Hamond's son; for that he rushed with an onslaught laid down by law on Thorgeir Otkell's son, and wounded him with a body wound, which proved a death wound, so that Thorgeir got his death.

"I say on this charge he ought to become a convicted outlaw, not to be fed, not to be forwarded, not to be helped or harboured in any need.

"I say that his goods are forfeited, half to me and half to the men of the Quarter, whose right it is by law to seize the goods of outlaws.

"I give notice of this charge in the Quarter Court, into which this suit ought by law to come.

"I give this lawful notice in the hearing of all men at the Hill of Laws.

"I give notice now of this suit, and of full forfeiture and outlawry against Gunnar Hamond's son."

A second time Gizur took witness, and gave notice of a suit against Gunnar Hamond's son, for that he had wounded Thorgeir Otkell's son with a body wound which was a death wound, and from which Thorgeir got his death, on such and such a spot when Gunnar first sprang on Thorgeir with an onslaught, laid down by law.

After that he gave notice of this declaration as he had done of the first. Then he asked in what Quarter Court the suit lay, and in what house in the district the defendant dwelt.

When that was over, men left the Hill of Laws, and all said that he spoke well.

Gunnar kept himself well in hand and said little or nothing.

Now the Thing wears away till the day when the courts were to be set.

Then Gunnar stood looking south by the court of the men of Rangriver, and his men with him.

Gizur stood looking north, and calls his witnesses, and bade Gunnar to listen to his oath, and to his declaration of the suit, and to all the steps and proofs which he meant to bring forward. After that he took his oath, and then he brought forward the suit in the same shape before the court, as he had given notice of it before. Then he made them bring forward witness of the notice, then he bade the neighbours on the inquest to take their seats, and called upon Gunnar to challenge the inquest.


References


Kafli 73

Þessi tíðindi spyrjast víða og var Þorgeir mörgum manni harmdauði. Þeir Gissur hvíti riðu til og lýstu vígunum og kvöddu búa til þings. Riðu þeir þá vestur heim.

Þeir Njáll og Gunnar fundust og töluðu um bardagann.

Þá mælti Njáll við Gunnar: „Vertu nú var um þig. Nú hefir þú vegið tvisvar sinnum í sama knérunn. Hygg nú svo fyrir hag þínum að þar liggur við líf þitt ef þú heldur eigi þá sætt sem ger er.“

„Hvergi ætla eg mér af að bregða,“ segir Gunnar, „en þó mun eg þurfa liðsinni yðvart á þingi.“

Njáll svaraði: „Halda mun eg við þig mínum trúnaði til dauðadags.“

Ríður Gunnar þá heim.

Líður nú til þings og fjölmenna hvorirtveggju mjög. Er um þetta allfjölrætt á þingi hversu þessi mál mundu lúkast.

Þeir Gissur og Geir goði töluðu með sér hvor þeirra lýsa skyldi vígsökinni Þorgeirs. En þar kom að Gissur tók undir sig málið og lýsti sök að Lögbergi og kvað svo að orði að „eg lýsi lögmætu frumhlaupi á hönd Gunnari Hámundarsyni um það er hann hljóp lögmætu frumhlaupi til Þorgeirs Otkelssonar og særði hann holundarsári því er að ben gerðist en Þorgeir fékk bana af. Tel eg hann eiga að verða um sök þá sekjan skógarmann, óælan, óferjanda, óráðanda öllum bjargráðum. Tel eg sekt fé hans hálft mér en hálft fjórðungsmönnum þeim er sektarfé eiga að taka að lögum. Lýsi eg til fjórðungsdóms þess er sökin á í að koma að lögum, lýsi eg löglýsing í heyranda hljóði að Lögbergi, lýsi eg nú til sóknar og sektar fullrar á hönd Gunnari Hámundarsyni.“

Í annað sinn nefndi Gissur sér votta og lýsti sök á hönd Gunnari Hámundarsyni um það er hann særði Þorgeir Otkelsson holundarsári því er að ben gerðist en Þorgeir fékk bana af á þeim vettvangi er Gunnar hljóp til Þorgeirs lögmætu frumhlaupi áður. Síðan lýsti hann þessi lýsing sem hinni fyrri. Þá spurði hann að þingfesti og heimilisfangi. Eftir það gengu menn frá Lögbergi og mæltu allir að honum mæltist vel. Gunnar var vel stilltur og lagði fátt til.

Líður nú þingið þar er dómar fara út. Gunnar stóð norðan að Rangæingadómi. Gissur stóð sunnan að og nefnir votta og bauð Gunnari að hlýða til eiðspjalls og til framsögu sakar sinnar og sóknargagna þeirra allra sem hann hugði fram að færa. Eftir það vann hann eið. Þá sagði hann fram sök svo skipaða í dóm. Þá lét hann bera lýsingarvætti. Þá bauð hann búum í setu og til ruðningar um kviðinn.


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