Njála, 091: Difference between revisions

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"'Twill be proved soon enough, I dare say," says Skarphedinn, "which of us is to scatter gravel over the other's head."
"'Twill be proved soon enough, I dare say," says Skarphedinn, "which of us is to scatter gravel over the other's head."


"Away with you home, ye 'Dungbeardlings!'" says Hallgerda, "and so we will call you always from this day forth; but your father we will call 'the Beardless Carle.'"
"Away with you home,<ref>'''Away with you home''': "Durch den Bruch des Tabus reizt sie auch die Umstehenden (außer Þráinn) zur Wiederholung der Beleidigung, die sich damit im Sinne des Gesetzes schuldig machen." [[Heinrichs, Anne. Hallgerðrs Saga in der Njála]] (p. ???).</ref> ye 'Dungbeardlings!'" says Hallgerda, "and so we will call you always from this day forth; but your father we will call 'the Beardless Carle.'"


They did not fare home before all who were there had made themselves guilty of uttering those words, save Thrain; he forbade men to utter them.
They did not fare home before all who were there had made themselves guilty of uttering those words, save Thrain; he forbade men to utter them.

Revision as of 11:24, 9 January 2015


Chapter 91

THE QUARREL OF NJAL'S SONS WITH THRAIN SIGFUS' SON.

Hrapp owned a farm at Hrappstede, but for all that he was always at Gritwater, and he was thought to spoil everything there. Thrain was good to him.

Once on a time it happened that Kettle of the Mark was at Bergthorsknoll; then Njal's sons told him of their wrongs and hardships, and said they had much to lay at Thrain Sigfus son's door, whenever they chose to speak about it.

NjaI said it would be best that Kettle should talk with his brother Thrain about it, and he gave his word to do so.

So they gave Kettle breathing-time to talk to Thrain.

A little after they spoke of the matter again to Kettle, but he said that be would repeat few of the words that had passed between them, "For it was pretty plain that Thrain thought I set too great store on being your brother-in-law."

Then they dropped talking about it, and thought they saw that things looked ugly, and so they asked their father for his counsel as to what was to be done, but they told him they would not let things rest as they then stood.

"Such things," said Njal, "are not so strange. It will be thought that they are slain without a cause, if they are slain now, and my counsel is, that as many men as may be should be brought to talk with them about these things, and thus as many as we can find may be ear-witnesses if they answer ill as to these things. Then Kari shall talk about them too, for he is just the man with the right turn of mind for this; then the dislike between you will grow and grow, for they will heap bad words on bad words when men bring the matter forward, for they are foolish men. It may also well be that it may be said that my sons are slow to take up a quarrel, but ye shall bear that for the sake of gaining time, for there are two sides to everything that is done, and ye can always pick a quarrel; but still ye shall let so much of your purpose out, as to say that if any wrong be put upon you that ye do mean something. But if ye had taken counsel from me at first, then these things should never have been spoken about at all, and then ye would have gotten no disgrace from them; but now ye have the greatest risk of it, and so it will go on ever growing and growing with your disgrace, that ye will never get rid of it until ye bring yourselves into a strait, and have to fight your way out with weapons; but in that there is a long and weary night in which ye will have to grope your way."

After that they ceased speaking about it; but the matter became the daily talk of many men.

One day it happened that those brothers spoke to Kari and bade him go to Gritwater. Kari said he thought he might go elsewhither on a better journey, but still he would go if that were Njal's counsel. So after that Kari fares to meet Thrain, and then they talk over the matter, and they did not each look at it in the same way.

Kari comes home, and Njal's sons ask how things had gone between Thrain and him. Kari said he would rather not repeat the words that had passed, "But," he went on, "it is to be looked for that the like words will be spoken when ye yourselves can hear them."

Thrain had fifteen house-carles trained to arms in his house, and eight of them rode with him whithersoever he went. Thrain was very fond of show and dress, and always rode in a blue cloak, and had on a gilded helm, and the spear--the earl's gift--in his band, and a fair shield, and a sword at his belt. Along with him always went Gunnar Lambi's son, and Lambi Sigurd's son, and Grani Gunnar of Lithend's son. But nearest of all to him went Killing- Hrapp. Lodinn was the name of his serving-man, he too went with Thrain when he journeyed; Tjorvi was the name of Lodinn's brother, and he too was one of Thrain's band. The worst of all, in their words against Njal's sons, were Hrapp and Grani; and it was mostly their doing that no atonement was offered to them.

Njal's sons often spoke to Kari that he should ride with them; and it came to that at last, for he said it would be well that they heard Thrain's answer.

Then they busked them, four of Njal's sons, and Kari the fifth, and so they fare to Gritwater.

There was a wide porch in the homestead there, so that many men might stand in it side by side. There was a woman out of doors, and she saw their coming, and told Thrain of it; he bade them to go out into the porch, and take their arms, and they did so.

Thrain stood in mid-door, but Killing-Hrapp and Grani Gunnar's son stood on either hand of him; then next stood Gunnar Lambi's son, then Lodinn and Tjorvi, then Lambi Sigurd's son; then each of the others took his place right and left; for the house-carles were all at home.

Skarphedinn and his men walk up from below, and he went first, then Kari, then Hauskuld, then Grim, then Helgi. But when they had come up to the door, then not a word of welcome passed the lips of those who stood before them.

"May we all be welcome here?" said Skarphedinn.

Hallgerda stood in the porch, and had been talking low to Hrapp, then she spoke out loud: "None of those who are here will say that ye are welcome."

Then Skarphedinn sang a song:

"Prop of sea-waves' fire (1), thy fretting Cannot cast a weight on us, Warriors wight; yes, wolf and eagle Willingly I feed to-day; Carline thrust into the ingle, Or a tramping whore, art thou; Lord of skates that skim the sea-belt (2), Odin's mocking cup (3) I mix"

"Thy words," said Skarphedinn, "will not be worth much, for thou art either a hag, only fit to sit in the ingle, or a harlot."

"These words of thine thou shalt pay for," she says, "ere thou farest home."

"Thee am I come to see, Thrain," said Helgi, "and to know if thou wilt make me any amends for those wrongs and hardships which befell me for thy sake in Norway."

"I never knew," said Thrain, "that ye two brothers were wont to measure your manhood by money; or, how long shall such a claim for amends stand over?"

"Many will say," says Helgi, "that thou oughtest to offer us atonement, since thy life was at stake."

Then Hrapp said, "'Twas just luck that swayed the balance, when he got stripes who ought to bear them; and she dragged you under disgrace and hardships, but us away from them."

"Little good luck was there in that," says Helgi, "to break faith with the earl, and to take to thee instead."

"Thinkest thou not that thou hast some amends to seek from me," says Hrapp. "I will atone thee in a way that, methinks, were fitting."

"The only dealings we shall have," says Helgi, "will be those which will not stand thee in good stead."

"Don't bandy words with Hrapp," said Skarphedinn, "but give him a red skin for a grey." (4)

"Hold thy tongue, Skarphedinn," said Hrapp, "or I will not spare to bring my axe on thy head."

"'Twill be proved soon enough, I dare say," says Skarphedinn, "which of us is to scatter gravel over the other's head."

"Away with you home,[1] ye 'Dungbeardlings!'" says Hallgerda, "and so we will call you always from this day forth; but your father we will call 'the Beardless Carle.'"

They did not fare home before all who were there had made themselves guilty of uttering those words, save Thrain; he forbade men to utter them.

Then Njal's sons went away, and fared till they came home, then they told their father.

"Did ye call any men to witness of those words?" says Njal.

"We called none," says Skarphedinn; "we do not mean to follow that suit up except on the battle-field."

"No one will now think," says Bergthora, "that ye have the heart to lift your weapons."

"Spare thy tongue, mistress!" says Kari, "in egging on thy sons, for they will be quite eager enough."

After that they all talk long in secret, Njal and his sons, and Kari Solmund's son, their brother-in-law.

ENDNOTES:

(l) "Prop of sea-waves' fire," a periphrasis for woman that bears gold on her arm.

(2) "Skates that skim." etc.. a periphrasis for ships. (3) "Odin's mocking cup," mocking songs. (4) An allusion to the Beast Epic, where the cunning fox laughs at the flayed condition of his stupid foes, the wolf and bear. We should say, "Don't stop to speak with him, but rather beat him black and blue."

References

  1. Away with you home: "Durch den Bruch des Tabus reizt sie auch die Umstehenden (außer Þráinn) zur Wiederholung der Beleidigung, die sich damit im Sinne des Gesetzes schuldig machen." Heinrichs, Anne. Hallgerðrs Saga in der Njála (p. ???).

Kafli 91

Hrappur átti bú á Hrappstöðum en þó var að Grjótá jafnan og þótti hann þar öllu spilla. Þráinn var vel til hans.

Einhverju sinni var það þá er Ketill úr Mörk var að Bergþórshvoli, þá sögðu Njálssynir frá hrakningum sínum og kváðust mikið eiga að Þráni Sigfússyni nær sem þeir töluðu til. Njáll sagði að það væri best að Ketill tali til við bróður sinn Þráin.

Hann hét því. Gáfu þeir Katli tómstund til að tala við Þráin.

Litlu síðar mæltu þeir til við Ketil en hann kveðst fátt mundu herma af orðum þeirra „því að það fannst á að Þráni þótti eg mikils virða mágsemd við yður.“

Síðan hættu þeir talinu og þóttust þeir sjá að erfiðlega horfði og spurðu föður sinn ráðs hversu með skyldi fara. Þeir kváðust eigi una að svo búið stæði.

Njáll svaraði: „Eigi er slíkt svo óvant. Það mun þykja um sakleysi ef þeir eru drepnir og er það mitt ráð að skjóta að sem flestum um að tala við þá, að sem flestum verði heyrinkunnigt ef þeir svara illa. Þá skal Kári um tala því að hann er skapdeildarmaður. Mun þá vaxa óþokki með yður því að þeir munu hlaða illyrðum saman er menn eiga hlut að. Þeir eru menn heimskir. Það kann og vera að mælt sé að synir mínir séu seinir til aðgerða og skuluð þér það þola um stundarsakir því að allt orkar tvímælis þá er gert er. En svo fremi skuluð þér orði á koma er þér ætlið nokkuð að að gera ef yðvar er illa leitað. En ef þér hefðuð við mig um ráðið í fyrstu þá mundi aldrei orði á hafa verið komið og mundi yður þá engi svívirðing að verða. En nú hafið þér af hina mestu raun og mun það þó svo aukanda fara um yðra svívirðing að þér munuð ekki fá að gert fyrr en þér leggið vandræði á yður og vegið með vopnum og er því langa nót að að draga.“

Eftir það hættu þeir talinu og varð hér margs manns umræða á.

Einhverju sinni var það að þeir ræddu að Kári mundi fara til Grjótár. Kára kvaðst önnur ferð þykja betri en kvaðst þó mundu fara ef þetta væru ráð Njáls. Síðan fer Kári til fundar við Þráin. Tala þeir þá um málið og þykir þeim eigi einn veg báðum. Kári kemur heim og spyrja þeir Njálssynir Kára hversu farið hefir með þeim.

Kári kvaðst ekki herma mundu orðin „og er meiri von að mælt sé slíkt svo að þér heyrið.“

Þráinn hafði fimmtán karla vígja á bæ sínum og riðu átta með honum hvert er hann fór. Þráinn var skrautmenni mikið og reið jafnan í blárri kápu og hafði gylltan hjálm og spjótið Jarlsnaut í hendi og fagran skjöld og sverði gyrður. Með honum var jafnan í för Gunnar Lambason og Lambi Sigurðarson og Grani son Gunnars frá Hlíðarenda. Víga-Hrappur gekk honum þó næst jafnan. Loðinn hét og heimamaður hans. Hann var í ferðum með Þráni. Tjörvi hét bróðir Loðins er enn var í ferðum með Þráni. Þeir lögðu verst til þeirra Njálssona Hrappur og Grani og ollu mest er þeim var engi sætt boðin.

Njálssynir ræddu oft við Kára að hann mundi fara með þeim og það varð um síðir og sagði hann að það væri vel að þeir heyrðu svör Þráins. Bjuggust þeir þá fjórir Njálssynir og Kári hinn fimmti. Þeir fara til Grjótár. Þar var anddyri breitt og máttu margir menn standa jafnfram.

Kona ein var úti og sá ferð þeirra og segir Þráni. Hann bað menn ganga í anddyrið og taka vopn sín. Þeir gerðu svo. Stóð Þráinn í miðjum dyrum en þeir stóðu til sinnar handar hvor Víga-Hrappur og Grani Gunnarsson, þá þar næst Gunnar Lambason, þá Loðinn og Tjörvi, þá Lambi Sigurðarson, þá hver að hendi því að karlar voru allir heima.

Þeir Skarphéðinn ganga að neðan og gekk hann fyrstur, þá Kári, þá Höskuldur, þá Grímur, þá Helgi. En er þeir komu að neðan þá féllust þeim allar kveðjur er fyrir voru.

Skarphéðinn mælti: „Allir séum vér velkomnir.“

Hallgerður stóð í anddyrinu og hafði talað hljótt við Hrapp. Hún mælti: „Það mun engi mæla sá er fyrir er að þér séuð velkomnir.“

Skarphéðinn kvað vísu:


27. Auk munu, elda síka,

orð þín mega, skorða,

gjarn seð eg úlf og örnu,

ekki þessum rekkum;

hornkerling ert, Hernar

hrings víðs freka skíða

Baldur semur Óðins öldu,

útigangs eða púta.


Skarphéðinn mælti: „Ekki munu mega orð þín því að þú ert annaðhvort hornkerling eða púta.“

„Goldin skulu þér verða þessi orð áður þú ferð heim.“

Helgi mælti: „Þig er eg kominn að finna, Þráinn, ef þú vilt gera mér sæmd nokkura fyrir hrakningar þær er eg hlaut í Noregi fyrir þínar sakir.“

Þráinn mælti: „Aldrei vissi eg að þið bræður munduð gera drengskap ykkarn til fjár eða hversu lengi skal fjárbón sjá yfir standa?“

„Það munu margir mæla,“ segir Helgi, „að þú ættir að bjóða sættina þar til líf þitt lá við.“

Þá mælti Hrappur: „Þar gerði nú gæfumuninn er sá hlaut skellinn er skyldi og dró yður undir hrakningina en oss undan.“

„Lítil var það gæfa,“ segir Helgi, „að bregða trúnaði við jarl en taka þig við.“

„Þykist þú eigi að mér bótina eiga?“ segir Hrappur. „Eg mun bæta þér því sem mér þykir maklegt.“

„Þau ein skipti munum við eiga,“ segir Helgi, „að þér mun ekki betur gegna.“

Skarphéðinn mælti: „Skiptið ekki orðum við Hrapp en gjaldið honum rauðan belg fyrir grán.“

Hrappur mælti: „Þegi þú, Skarphéðinn, ekki skal eg spara að bera mína öxi að höfði þér.“

„Reynt mun slíkt verða,“ segir Skarphéðinn, „hver grjóti hleður að höfði öðrum.“

„Farið heim, taðskegglingar,“[1] segir Hallgerður, „og munum vér yður svo jafnan kalla héðan í frá en föður yðvarn karl hinn skegglausa.“

Þeir fóru eigi fyrr heim en allir urðu sekir þessa orða, þeir er fyrir voru, nema Þráinn. Hann þekkti menn af orðum þessum.

Þeir fóru í braut Njálssynir og fóru þar til er þeir komu heim. Þeir sögðu föður sínum.

„Nefnduð þér nokkura votta að orðunum?“ segir Njáll.

„Enga,“ sagði Skarphéðinn, „vér ætlum ekki að sækja þetta nema á vopnaþingi.“

„Það mun engi nú ætla,“ segir Bergþóra, „að þér þorið vopn að hefja.“

„Hafðu lítið við, húsfreyja,“ segir Kári, „að eggja sonu þína því að þeir munu þó ærið framgjarnir.“

Eftir það tala þeir lengi hljótt allir feðgar og Kári.

Tilvísanir

  1. Farið heim, taðskegglingar: "Durch den Bruch des Tabus reizt sie auch die Umstehenden (außer Þráinn) zur Wiederholung der Beleidigung, die sich damit im Sinne des Gesetzes schuldig machen." Heinrichs, Anne. Hallgerðrs Saga in der Njála (s. ???).

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