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Page 51
CHAPTER XLVI
SENTENCE OF OUTLAWRY PASSED UPON GRETTIR AT THE ALL-THING
In that same summer before the assembly of the Thing there came a
ship out to Gasar bringing news of Grettir and of his house-burning
adventure. Thorir of Gard was very angry when he heard of it and
bethought himself of vengeance for his sons upon Grettir. Thorir
rode with a large retinue to the Thing and laid a complaint in
respect of the burning, but men thought nothing could be done as
long as there was no one to answer the charge. Thorir insisted
that he would be content with nothing short of banishment for
Grettir from the whole country after such a crime.
Then Skapti the Lawman said: "It certainly was an evil deed if
all really happened as has been told. But One man's tale is but
half a tale. Most people try and manage not to improve a story
if there is more than one version of it. I hold that no judgment
should be passed for Grettir's banishment without further
proceedings."
Thorir was a notable person and possessed great influence in the
district; many powerful men were his friends. He pressed his
suit so strongly that nothing could be done to save Grettir.
Thorir had him proclaimed an outlaw throughout the country, and
was ever afterwards the most bitter of his opponents, as he often
found. Having put a price upon his head, as it was usual to do
with other outlaws, he rode home. Many said that the decree was
carried more by violence than by law, but it remained in force.
Nothing more happened until after midsummer.
CHAPTER XLVII
GRETTIR RETURNS TO BJARG--SVEINN AND HIS HORSE SADDLE-HEAD
Later in the summer Grettir the son of Asmund came back to
Iceland, landing in the Hvita in Borgarfjord. People about the
district went down to the ship and all the news came at once upon
Grettir, first that his father was dead, then that his brother
was slain, and third that he was declared outlaw throughout the
land. Then he spoke this verse:
"All fell at once upon the bard,
exile, father dead and brother.
Oh man of battle! Many an one
who breaks the swords shall smart for this."
It is told that Grettir changed his manner no whit for these
tidings, but was just as merry as before. He remained on board
his ship for a time because he could not get a horse to suit him.
There was a man named Sveinn who dwelt at Bakki up from Thingnes.
He was a good bondi and a merry companion; he often composed
verses which it was a delight to listen to. He had a brown mare,
the swiftest of horses, which he called Saddle-head. Once
Grettir left Vellir in the night because he did not wish the
traders to know of it. He got a black cape and put it over his
clothes to conceal himself. He went up past Thingnes to Bakki,
by which time it was light. Seeing a brown horse in the meadow
he went up and put a bridle on it, mounted on its back and rode
up along the Hvita river below Baer on to the river Flokadalsa
and up to the road above Kalfanes. The men working at Bakki were
up by then, and told the bondi that a man was riding his horse.
He got up and laughed and spoke a verse:
"There rode a man upon Saddle-head's back;
close to the garth the thief has come.
Frey of the Odin's cloud, dreadful of aspect,
appears from his strength to be busy with mischief."
Then he took a horse and rode after him. Grettir rode on till he
came to the settlement at Kropp, where he met a man named Halli
who said he was going down to the ship at Vellir. Grettir then
spoke a verse:
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