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Page 17
Grettir said: "Work not done needs no reward."
Father and son parted with little love between them. Many wished
him a good voyage, but few a safe return. His mother went with
him along the road. Before they parted she said: "You have not
been sent off in the way that I should have wished, my son, or in
a way befitting your birth. The most cruel thing of all, I
think, is that you have not a weapon which you can use. My heart
tells me that you will want one."
Then she took from under her mantle a sword all ready for use, a
valuable possession. She said: "This was the sword of Jokull, my
father's father and of the ancient Vatnsdal men, in whose hands
it was blessed with victory. I give it to you; use it well."
Grettir thanked her warmly and said it would be more precious to
him than any other possession though of greater value. Then he
went on his way and Asdis wished him all possible happiness. He
rode South over the heath and did not stop till he reached his
ship. Haflidi received him well and asked him about his outfit
for the voyage. Grettir spoke a verse:
"Oh trimmer of sails I my father is wealthy,
but poorly enough he sent me from home.
My mother it was who gave me this sword.
True is the saying: The mother is best."
Haflidi said it was evident that she had most thought for him.
Directly they were ready and had a wind they got under way.
When they were out of shallow water they hoisted their sail.
Grettir made himself a corner under the ship's boat, whence he
refused to stir either to bale or to trim the sails or to do any
work in the ship, as it was his duty to do equally with the other
men; nor would he buy himself off. They sailed to the South,
rounded Reykjanes and left the land behind them, when they met
with stormy weather. The ship was rather leaky and became very
uneasy in the gale; the crew were very much exhausted. Grettir
only let fly satirical verses at them, which angered them sorely.
One day when it was very stormy and very cold the men called out
to Grettir to get up and work; they said their claws were quite
frozen. He answered:
"Twere well if every finger were froze
on the hands of such a lubberly crew."
They got no work out of him and liked him even worse than before,
and said they would pay him out on his person for his squibs and
his mutinous behaviour.
"You like better," they said, "to pat the belly of Bard the
mate's wife than to bear a hand in the ship. But we don't mean
to stand it."
The weather grew steadily worse; they had to bale night and
day, and they threatened Grettir. Haflidi when he heard them
went up to Grettir and said: "I don't think your relations with
the crew are very good. You are mutinous and make lampoons about
them, and they threaten to pitch you overboard. This is most
improper."
"Why cannot they mind their own business?" Grettir rejoined.
"But I should like one or two to remain behind with me before I
go overboard."
"That is impossible," said Haflidi. "We shall never get on upon
those terms. But I will make you a proposal about it."
"What is that?"
"The thing which annoys them is that you make lampoons about
them. Now I suggest that you make a lampoon about me. Then,
perhaps, they will become better disposed towards you."
"About you I will never utter anything but good," said he. "I am
not going to compare you with the sailors."
"But you might compose a verse which should at first appear foul,
but on closer view prove to be fair."
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