|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 45
On the next morning the weather was fine. They all woke early
and made ready to continue their journey. It was proposed that
they should go and find out who the people were who had had the
fire, so they cast off and sailed across the channel. They found
no house there, nothing but a heap of ashes and a good many bones
of men amongst them. Evidently the house with all who were in it
had been burned. They asked whether Grettir had done it, and
declared it was an abominable deed. Grettir said that what he
expected had come to pass, and that he was ill rewarded for
getting the fire for them. He said it was thankless work to help
such miserable beings as they were. He suffered much annoyance
in consequence, for wherever the traders went they told that
Grettir had burned the men in the house. Soon it became known
that it was the sons of Thorir of Gard and their followers who
had been burned. The traders refused to have Grettir on board
their ship any longer and drove him away. He was so abhorred
that scarcely any one would do him a service. His case seemed
hopeless, and his only desire was at any cost to appear before
the king. So he went North to Thrandheim where the king was, and
had heard the whole story before Grettir came, for many had been
busy in slandering him. Grettir waited several days in the town
before he was able to appear before the king.
CHAPTER XXXIX
GRETTIR APPEARS BEFORE THE KING AND FAILS TO UNDERGO THE ORDEAL
One day when the king was sitting in judgment Grettir came before
him and saluted him respectfully. The king looked at him and
said:
"Are you Grettir the Strong?"
"So I have been called," he replied, "and I have come here in the
hope of obtaining deliverance from the slanders which are being
spread about me, and to say that I did not do this deed."
The king said: "You are worthy enough; but I know not what
fortune you will have in defending yourself. It is quite
possible that you did not intend to burn the men in the house."
Grettir said that he was most anxious to prove his innocence if
the king would permit him. Then the king bade him relate
faithfully all that had happened. Grettir told him everything
exactly as it was, and declared that they were all alive when he
escaped with his fire; he was ready to undergo any ordeal which
the king considered that the law required.
King Olaf said: "I decree that you shall bear iron, if your fate
so wills it."
Grettir was quite content with that, and began his fast for the
ordeal. When the day for the ceremony arrived the king and the
bishop went to the church together with a multitude of people who
came out of curiosity to see a man so much talked about as
Grettir. At last Grettir himself was led to the church. When he
entered many looked at him and remarked that he excelled most men
in strength and stature. As he passed down the aisle there
started up a very ill-favoured, overgrown boy and cried to him:
"Wondrous are now the ways in a land where men should call
themselves Christians, when evil-doers and robbers and thieves
walk in peace to purge themselves. What should a wicked man find
better to do than to preserve his life so long as he may? Here
is now a malefactor convicted of guilt, one who has burnt
innocent men in their houses, and yet is allowed to undergo
purgation. Such a thing is most unrighteous."
Then he went at Grettir, pointing at him with his finger, making
grimaces and calling him son of a sea-ogress, with many other bad
names. Then Grettir lost his temper and his self-control. He
raised his hand and gave him a box on the ear so that he fell
senseless, and some thought he was dead. No one seemed to know
whence the boy had come nor what became of him afterwards, but it
was generally believed that he was some unclean spirit sent forth
for the destruction of Grettir.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|