The Story of Burnt Njal

The Story of Burnt Njal

by Anonymous

Originally written in Icelandic, sometime in the 13th Century A.D.
Author unknown.

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.

2. HRUT WOOS UNNA

It happened once that those brothers, Hauskuld and Hrut, rode to
the Althing, and there was much people at it. Then Hauskuld said
to Hrut, "One thing I wish, brother, and that is, that thou
wouldst better thy lot and woo thyself a wife."

Hrut answered, "That has been long on my mind, though there
always seemed to be two sides to the matter; but now I will do as
thou wishest; whither shall we turn our eyes?"

Hauskuld answered, "Here now are many chiefs at the Thing, and
there is plenty of choice, but I have already set my eyes on a
spot where a match lies made to thy hand. The woman's name is
Unna, and she is a daughter of Fiddle Mord, one of the wisest of
men. He is here at the Thing and his daughter too, and thou
mayest see her if it pleases thee."

Now the next day, when men were going to the High Court, they saw
some well-dressed women standing outside the booths of the men
from the Rangrivervales. Then Hauskuld said to Hrut "Yonder now
is Unna, of whom I spoke; what thinkest thou of her?"

"Well," answered Hrut; "but yet I do not know whether we should
get on well together."

After that they went to the High Court, where Fiddle Mord was
laying down the law as was his wont, and after he had done he
went home to his booth.

Then Hauskuld and Hrut rose, and went to Mord's booth. They went
in and found Mord sitting in the innermost part of the booth, and
they bade him "Good-day." He rose to meet them, and took
Hauskuld by the hand and made him sit down by his side, and Hrut
sat next to Hauskuld. So after they had talked much of this and
that, at last Hauskuld said, "I have a bargain to speak to thee
about; Hrut wishes to become thy son-in-law, and buy thy
daughter, and I, for my part, will not be sparing in the matter."

Mord answered, "I know that thou art a great chief, but thy
brother is unknown to me."

"He is a better man than I," answered Hauskuld.

"Thou wilt need to lay down a large sum with him, for she is heir
to all I leave behind me," said Mord.

"There is no need," said Hauskuld, "to wait long before thou
hearest what I give my word lie shall have. He shall have
Kamness and Hrutstede, up as far as Thrandargil, and a trading-
ship beside, now on her voyage."

Then said Hrut to Mord, "Bear in mind, now, husband, that my
brother has praised me much more than I deserve for love's sake;
but if after what thou hast heard, thou wilt make the match, I am
willing to let thee lay down the terms thyself."

Mord answered, "I have thought over the terms; she shall have
sixty hundreds down, and this sum shall be increased by a third
more in thine house, but if ye two have heirs, ye shall go halves
in the goods."

Then said Hrut, "I agree to these terms, and now let us take
witness." After that they stood up and shook hands, and Mord
betrothed his daughter Unna to Hrut, and the bridal feast was to
be at Mord's house, half a month after Midsummer.

Now both sides ride home from the Thing, and Hauskuld and Hrut
ride westward by Hallbjorn's beacon. Then Thiostolf, the son of
Bjorn Gullbera of Reykriverdale, rode to meet them, and told them
how a ship had come out from Norway to the White River, and how
aboard of her was Auzur Hrut's father's brother, and he wished
Hrut to come to him as soon as ever he could. When Hrut heard
this, he asked Hauskuld to go with him to the ship, so Hauskuld
went with his brother, and when they reached the ship, Hrut gave
his kinsman Auzur a kind and hearty welcome. Auzur asked them
into his booth to drink, so their horses were unsaddled, and they
went in and drank, and while they were drinking, Hrut said to
Auzur, "Now, kinsman, thou must ride west with me, and stay with
me this winter."

Contents: 1. OF FIDDLE MORD 2. HRUT WOOS UNNA 3. HRUT AND GUNNHILLDA, KING'S MOTHER 4. OF HRUT'S CRUISE 5. ATLI ARNVID SON'S SLAYING 6. HRUT SAILS OUT TO ICELAND 7. UNNA SEPARATES FROM HRUT 8. MORD CLAIMS HIS GOODS FROM HRUT 9. THORWALD GETS HALLGERDA TO WIFE 10. HALLGERDA'S WEDDING 11. THORWALD'S SLAYING 12. THIOSTOLF'S FLIGHT 13. GLUM'S WOOING 14. GLUM'S WEDDING 15. THIOSTOLF GOES TO GLUM'S HOUSE 16. GLUM'S SHEEP HUNT 17. GLUM'S SLAYING 18. FIDDLE MORD'S DEATH 19. GUNNAR COMES INTO THE STORY 20. OF NJAL AND HIS CHILDREN 21. UNNA GOES TO SEE GUNNAR 22. NJAL'S ADVICE 23. HUCKSTER HEDINN. 24. GUNNAR AND HRUT STRIVE AT THE THING. 25. UNNA'S SECOND WEDDING 26. OF ASGRIM AND HIS CHILDREN 27. HELGI NJAL'S SON'S WOOING 28. HALLVARD COMES OUT TO ICELAND 29. GUNNAR GOES ABROAD 30. GUNNAR GOES A-SEA-ROVING 31. GUNNAR GOES TO KING HAROLD GORM'SSON AND EARL HACON 32. GUNNAR COMES OUT TO ICELAND 33. GUNNAR'S WOOING 34. OF THRAIN SIGFUS' SON 35. THE VISIT TO BERGTHORSKNOLL 36. KOL SLEW SWART 37. THE SLAYING OF KOL, WHOM ATLI SLEW 38. THE KILLING OF ATLI THE THRALL 39. THE SLAYING OF BRYNJOLF THE UNRULY 40. GUNNAR AND NJAL MAKE PEACE ABOUT BRYNJOLF'S SLAYING 41. SIGMUND COMES OUT TO ICELAND 42. THE SLAYING OF THORD FREEDMANSON 43. NJAL AND GUNNAR MAKE PEACE FOR THE SLAYING OF THORD 44. SIGMUND MOCKS NJAL AND HIS SONS 45. THE SLAYING OF SIGMUND AND SKIOLLD 46. OF GIZUR THE WHITE AND GEIR THE PRIEST 47. OF OTKELL IN KIRKBY 48. HOW HALLGERDA MAKES MALCOLM STEAL FROM KIRKBY 49. OF SKAMKELL'S EVIL COUNSEL 50. OF SKAMKELL'S LYING 51. OF GUNNAR 52. OF RUNOLF, THE SON OF WOLF AURPRIEST 53. HOW OTKELL RODE OVER GUNNAR 54. THE FIGHT AT RANGRIVER 55. NJAL'S ADVICE TO GUNNAR 56. GUNNAR AND GEIR THE PRIEST STRIVE AT THE THING 57. OF STARKAD AND HIS SONS 58. HOW GUNNAR'S HORSE FOUGHT 59. OF ASGRIM AND WOLF UGGIS' SON 60. AN ATTACK AGAINST GUNNAR AGREED ON 61. GUNNAR'S DREAM 62. THE SLAYING OF HJORT AND FOURTEEN MEN 63. NJAL'S COUNSEL TO GUNNAR 64. OF VALGARD AND MORD 65. OF FINES AND ATONEMENTS 66. OF THORGEIR OTKELL'S SON 67. OF THORGEIR STARKAD'S SON 68. OF NJAL AND THOSE NAMESAKES 69. OLAF THE PEACOCK'S GIFTS TO GUNNAR 70. MORD'S COUNSEL 71. THE SLAYING OF THORGEIR OTKELL'S SON 72. OF THE SUITS FOR MANSLAUGHTER AT THE THING 73. OF THE ATONEMENT 74. KOLSKEGG GOES ABROAD 75. THE RIDING TO LITHEND 76. GUNNAR'S SLAYING 77. GUNNAR SINGS A SONG DEAD 78. GUNNAR OF LITHEND AVENGED 79. HOGNI TAKES AN ATONEMENT FOR GUNNAR'S DEATH 80. OF KOLSKEGG: HOW HE WAS BAPTIZED 81. OF THRAIN: HOW HE SLEW KOL 82. NJAL'S SONS SAIL ABROAD 83. OF KARI SOLMUND'S SON 84. OF EARL SIGURD 85. THE BATTLE WITH THE EARLS 86. HRAPP'S VOYAGE FROM ICELAND 87. THRAIN TOOK TO HRAPP 88. EARL HACON FIGHTS WITH NJAL'S SONS. 89. NJAL'S SONS AND KARI COME OUT TO ICELAND 90. THE QUARREL OF NJAL'S SONS WITH THRAIN SIGFUS' SON 91. THRAIN SIGFUS' SON'S SLAYING 92. KETTLE TAKES HAUSKULD AS HIS FOSTER-SON 93. NJAL TAKES HAUSKULD TO FOSTER 94. OF FLOSI THORD'S SON 95. OF HALL OF THE SIDE 96. OF THE CHANGE OF FAITH 97. OF THANGBRAND'S JOURNEYS 98. OF THANGBRAND AND GUDLEIF 99. OF GEST ODDLEIF'S SON 100. OF GIZUR THE WHITE AND HJALLTI 101. OF THORGEIR OF LIGHTWATER 102. THE WEDDING OF HAUSKULD, THE PRIEST OF WHITENESS 103. THE SLAYING OF HAUSKULD NJAL'S SON 104. THE SLAYING OF LYTING'S BROTHERS 105. OF AMUND THE BLIND 106. OF VALGARD THE GUILEFUL 107. OF MORD AND NJAL'S SONS 108. OF THE SLANDER OF MORD VALGARD'S SON. 109. OF MORD AND NJAL'S SONS 110. THE SLAYING OF HAUSKULD, THE PRIEST OFWHITENESS 111. OF HILDIGNNA AND MORD VALGARD'S SON 112. THE PEDIGREE OF GUDMUND THE POWERFUL 113. OF SNORRI THE PRIEST, AND HIS STOCK 114. OF FLOSI THORD'S SON 115. OF FLOSI AND HILDIGUNNA 116. OF FLOSI AND MORD AND THE SONS OF SIGFUS 117. NJAL AND SKARPHEDINN TALK TOGETHER 118. ASGRIM AND NJAL'S SONS PRAY MEN FOR HELP 119. OF SKARPHEDINN AND THORKEL FOULMOUTH 120. OF THE PLEADING OF THE SUIT 121. OF THE AWARD OF ATONEMENT BETWEEN FLOSI AND NJAL 122. OF THE JUDGES 123. AN ATTACK PLANNED ON NJAL AND HIS SONS 124. OF PORTENTS 125. FLOSI'S JOURNEY FROM HOME 126. OF PORTENTS AT BERGTHORSKNOLL 127. THE ONSLAUGHT (1) ON BERGTHORSKNOLL 128. NJAL'S BURNING 129. SKARPHEDINN'S DEATH 130. OF KARI SOLMUND'S SON 131. NJAL'S AND BERGTHORA'S BONES FOUND 132. FLOSI'S DREAM 133. OF FLOSI'S JOURNEY AND HIS ASKING FOR HELP 134. OF THORHALL AND KARI 135. OF FLOSI AND THE BURNERS 136. OF THORGEIR CRAGGEIR 137. OF EYJOLF BOLVERK'S SON 138. OF ASGRIM, AND GIZUR, AND KARI 139. OF ASGRIM AND GUDMUND 140. OF THE DECLARATIONS OF THE SUITS 141. NOW MEN GO TO THE COURTS 142. OF EYJOLF BOLVERK'S SON 143. THE COUNSEL OF THORHALL ASGRIM'S SON 144. BATTLE AT THE ALTHING 145. OF KARI AND THORGEIR 146. THE AWARD OF ATONEMENT WITH THORGEIR CRAGGEIR 147. KARI COMES TO BJORN'S HOUSE IN THE MARK 148. OF FLOSI AND THE BURNERS 149. OF KARI AND BJORN 150. MORE OF KARI AND BJORN 151. OF KARI AND BJORN AND THORGEIR 152. FLOSI GOES ABROAD 153. KARI GOES ABROAD 154. GUNNAR LAMBI'S SON'S SLAYING 155. OF SIGNS AND WONDERS 156. BRIAN'S BATTLE 157. THE SLAYING OF KOL THORSTEIN'S SON 158. OF FLOSI AND KARI

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