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Page 22
"That is spoken like a man," said Grettir. "The women shall be
quite contented with what they get."
Then all the women fled and began to weep, being overcome by
terror. Grettir said to the berserks: "Give me all the things
which you want to lay aside, your weapons and your wet clothes,
for the men will not obey us while they are frightened."
Thorir said he cared little for the women's whining. "But," he
said, "we mean to treat you in a different way from the other men
of the house. It seems to me that we may make a comrade of you."
"See to that yourselves," said Grettir. "But I do not look upon
all men alike."
Then they laid aside most of their weapons. Grettir said: "I
think now you had better sit down at the table and have some
drink. You must be thirsty after your rowing."
They said they were quite ready for a drink, but did not know
where the cellar was. Grettir asked whether they would let him
arrange for their entertainment, which they willingly agreed
to. So Grettir went and fetched some ale which he gave them to
drink. They were very tired and drank enormously. He kept them
well plied with the strongest ale there was, and they sat there
for a long time whilst he told them funny stories. There was a
tremendous din amongst them all, and the servants had no wish to
approach them.
Thorir said: "I never yet met with a stranger who treated me like
this man. What reward shall we give you for all that you have
done, Grettir?"
Grettir replied: "I don't expect any reward for my services at
present. But if when you depart we are still as good friends as
we seem to be now, I should very much like to join your company,
and though I may not be able to do as much work as any of you, I
will not be a hindrance in any doughty undertaking."
They were delighted, and wanted to swear fellowship with him at
once. Grettir said that could not be, "for," he added, "there is
truth in the saying that Ale is another man, and such a thing
should not be done hastily, so let it remain at what I said; we
are both little in the habit of restraining ourselves."
They declared that they did not mean to go back. The night was
now coming on and it was getting very dark. Grettir noticed that
they were rather fuddled, and asked whether they did not think it
was time to go to bed. Thorir said: "So it is; but I have to
fulfil my promise to the mistress." Grettir then went out and
called out loud: "Go to bed, women! Such is the will of Thorir
the bondi."
The women execrated him and could be heard howling like wolves.
The berserks then left the room. Grettir said: "Let us go
outside; I will show you the room in which Thorfinn keeps his
clothes."
They were agreeable and all went out to an enormous outhouse,
which was very strongly built, and had a strong lock on the outer
door. Adjoining it was a large and well-built privy, with only a
wooden partition between it and the room of the outhouse, which
was raised above the ground and had to be reached by steps. The
berserks then began skylarking and pushing Grettir about. He
fell down the in steps, as if in sport, and in a moment was out
of the house, had pulled the bolt, slammed the door to, and
locked it. Thorir and his mates thought at first that the door
had swung to of itself, and paid little attention; they had a
light with them by which Grettir had been showing them all
Thorfinn's treasures, and they continued looking at them for some
time.
Grettir went off to the homestead, and on reaching the door cried
out very loud, asking where the mistress was. She was silent,
being afraid to answer. He said: "Here is rather good sport to
be had. Are there any arms which are good for anything?"
"There are arms," she said; "but I don't know for what purpose
you want them."
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