Section 66 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, and the Search for the Poles. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The World Story, Volume 8, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, and the Search for the Poles. Edited by Eva March Tappen. Section 66. Paying Visits in Sargatan by Jay Faulford Vickery. The houses of the Northmen in Sargatan were of one type. They were built of wood where it could be obtained. Logs of wood were roughly hewn and placed one over the other. And the interstices filled with moss. Outside, wood tar was used inside hangings of skin or coarse cloth. Occasionally, the inside of the house was lined with rough boards. The roof consisted of boards covered with birch bark on which turf was placed. The same description of buildings existed in Sweden and in Kuerland, as it is so stated in Igor Skallagrimsens saga. There were no chimneys and an upper room or loft was comparatively unusual. The interior of the house consisted of one room open to the roof and the smoke of the fire found its way through a hole, which could be shut with a framework on which the call of a calf was stretched. In the upper part of the walls of the houses, holes were made called gluger. Sometimes these were in the lower part of the roof and were called wind eyes, vindoy, hence the word window. These windows were closed with shutters or trap doors under the urine or opening where the smoke left the house was the fire, which was lit on the floor or on a few stones placed for the purpose. In larger houses, the fire was nearly as long as the hall. Trunks of trees were lit in such a manner that they burnt through their whole length. On the floor was the tub that held the mirrored or mead and from which that liquid was served in horns to the guests. On formal occasions, the floor was strewn with straw or rushes. The hangings in large houses were often of costly material, embroidered or bordered with colored cloth. The shape of the house was rectangular, the longer sides facing north and south, the ends east and west. At the ends were the doors, one for the men and the other for the women. When such a house was entered, the first things seen were the mead tub and the long fire. On each side were benches, the whole length of the hall. The bench facing the south was the chief seat. On each of the two benches was a high seat, which was an armchair with a high back and pillars at the sides. These pillars were held in much reverence and were generally carved with the image of a god as a Thor. They were regarded as Panatis and when the Northmen fled from Norway after the battle of Haferfjord, they took the pillars of their high seats with them and cast them into the sea and colonized Iceland near the places where they drove ashore. The benches were furnished with cushions or pillows and when necessary, a lower row of benches was placed in front of the chief benches they could be taken away when not required. The chief man, whether he was a farmer, carl or king, sat in the high seat facing the south and opposite to him sat his principal guest with his friends or servants. The host could thus speak to his guests across the long fire or what appeared of more frequent occurrence drink his health. Each man's weapons were hung behind his back except his sword which was rarely out of his hand in saga time. At mealtimes tables were placed the length of the hall. These consisted of boards placed on trestles. They were so placed that the people who served could pass between them and the benches. In old times such a hall was not only a dining hall but a sleeping place. Each man slept on the bench on which he sat or if he has more than occasionally happened, got tipsy he slept in the straw on the floor. The above description applies to the more simple class of dwellings in saga time. The larger houses consisted of a hall, skali, which was often of considerable size. One is described in the appendix or rather addition to the land nambak of Iceland as 210 feet in length and 28 feet broad. At the entrance was a four hall called for skali and was so wide that several persons could walk abreast in it. The entrance to the hall was supplied with a door which was fastened by an iron bar or a strong piece of wood. Besides the benches running the length of the hall. There was a crossbench on which the women sat and outside the hall was a covered way or passage that was connected with doors to the hall. If the hall was designed for use both summer and winter for all classes of the household. It was called an old skali that is a hall with a long fire. And in this case it was furnished with sleeping places situated immediately behind the seats occupied during the day. Behind the cross benches paneled rooms were made for the women who were separated also by a cloth hanging called Tuvar Pala. The bedding consisted of coverlets of down boasters linen sheets and occasionally a sleeping place was hung round with skins to keep out drafts. The skins used for this purpose were chiefly Fox skins. If the hall was not supplemented with other buildings covers or the like were contrived for keeping provisions. They were often constructed at the end of the two for halls at the entrances on each side of the hall. Houses in saga time varied as houses do now after individual builders taste and three instances are given in the Icelandic land Nambak. Where houses were built over roads so that everyone who passed must go through the halls and partake of their owners hospitality. Tables were placed loaded with food so that the travelers should not be kept waiting. This is a good example of old fashioned Icelandic kindliness. The hall or skali was prepared to receive guests by being hung with hangings of skins or cloth. The benches were covered with cushions and pillows. Particles in use for the tables were cleaned and polished. The table linen was in order the floors strewn with brushes or straw, the fires lighted and tubs full of mead and all placed at the ends of the tables. The guests usually arranged their journey so as to arrive in the afternoon of the day the visit began. Men and women of the household were appointed to go out and meet the guests and attend to a certain number of them subsequently. Some of the men took charge of the guests, horses and arms. As in saga time it was necessary to be well armed on a journey. The women were met in the hall by the women of their host family and their final retake in charge of and placed in a convenient place for use. This does not appear to be so very distant accustomed. The reception of the guests and the boiling of meat and other good things on the long fire in the hall made the scene animated. This however calmed down as guest after guest arrived and each was shown his or her appointed place. The men on the long benches, the women on the cross bench. This was a difficult matter as there was a strong feeling as to precedence and an injudicious arrangement was highly resented. The house father sat in the high seat in the middle of the long benches on the side facing the south. If King or Yarl were present, he gave up his high seat to him. The house mother if not engaged in serving her guests occupied the seat in the middle of the cross bench. If more guests were present than the long benches could accommodate a row of seats was placed in front of them. These were called for seetie and appeared to have been boards on trestles or forms chairs were also used. When all were seated the house father gave his blessing for peace. Water was carried round to the guests to wash their hands and this duty was generally performed by the house mother herself as complimentary to her guests. The tables were placed and the cooked meats put on them and after eating had progressed. The women of the household and men who could be trusted with that important duty filled the horns and beakers of the guests. They were called skinned Yara and had an overlooker or chief who directed this heavy labor. Drinking, however, did not begin in serious earnest until the tables were removed. Then the solemnity of the occasion asserted itself. Three healths were drunk to the gods to Odin Thor and Brogdy. Three healths followed until the guests settled down to drink with a steady determination that fitting people with the hardest heads in Europe. A beaker or horn was half emptied by a man who as a compliment sent it to a friend who was honorably bound to empty it and never failed in the duty. The repetition of this produced results. A pair of old friends sat near each other and engaged in a friendly contest. They drank their beakers out at a pool and exhibited the empty horns as an evidence of their prowess until one of the pair could drink no more. This was a pleasant test of capacity. Men and women also drank in this way and it is recorded that the latter were not always the weaker vessels. One of the household were specially instructed to induce them in to get drunk as otherwise the evening would be dull. A man who did not get tipsy was tried and sentenced to drink a horn of ale specially adapted for the execution of the sentence. This horn was called bit of horn or the horn to be drunk out as a penalty. As the evening passed better ale and mead were introduced and occasionally wine and if this was done at the right moment it was a theme for praise. The conduct of the guests when very drunk was not always of a refined character as their arms had been taken from them. They were unable to use them and were reduced to drunken fights with their fists and drinking horns which when bound with silver or other metal were no despicable weapons. The bones of the animals that had furnished the feast were also used. The men who were sober endeavor to steal the tumult but the women were more useful. They threw clothes over the contending drunkards and gave them more to drink which if it had not a sobering effect had a quieting one. It was a matter of honor for the house father to see that his chief guests were put to bed in the quarters set apart for them. And that the others were comfortable on the rushes of the hall. The next day when the guests were assembled in the hall the first duty of the house father was to smooth over the squabbles that had occurred the night before. This was easy as quarrels always happened at such gatherings and experienced guests took it as a matter of course. Drinking then began again on the excellent principle of taking a hair of the dog that bit you. But it was only towards night that the same scene was renewed which was the case as long as the visit lasted. End of Section 66. This recording is in the public domain. Section 67 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Search for the Pearls. Read for LibriVox.org by Sonya. How the laws were made in Saga time. For the two weeks over which the al-sing extended Thingvala presented a brilliant and varied scene. From all quarters ride the chiefs with their followers to the assembly, their bright weapons glancing in the sunshine. By the sight of many a chief ride gaily dressed ladies, his wife and daughter or kinswomen. In an instant the whole plain is alive with men and horses. Friends who have not met for years greet each other. Some unharness their horses and lead them away to graze. Some arrange and store their baggage. Some are building new booths and some repairing old ones or spreading the awnings over them. At once there rises a whole village of booths with green turf walls covered by white awnings. First day is occupied in getting the booth into order and settling down generally. On Friday and Saturday the multitude crowds around the Lögberg, hill of laws, to hear the speaker recite the laws of the land, and on those days also the judges are appointed and the courts constituted. On Monday the real work of the assembly begins, when the Legislative Council holds its first meeting. On Monday the courts begin to sit, and thence forward the work goes on vigorously for the rest of the time of assembly, in a constant succession of councils, judgements, proclamations on the hill of laws, etc. The intervals of this serious business are filled up with various relaxations. Men visit each other in the booth, woo the fair daughters of the chieftains, wrestle on a funga breka, or listen to the narratives of some good storyteller, for it was the custom that he who knew most tales and could tell them best recited his narratives aloud, while the people crowded around to listen. End of Section 67. This recording is in the public domain. Section 68 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Search for the Poles. Read for LibriVox.org by Alan Mapstone. Iceland Part 2. Stories from the Icelandic sagas. Historical note. This little island in the frozen north is famous for the brilliancy of its classic literature. This is partly due to the severity of the climate, which isolated the Icelanders in their villages for a great part of the year. Storytelling became their great resource during the gloomy monotonous days of the winter, and in the 12th and 13th centuries there was a grand outburst of literature, especially valuable among the early books are the older Edda, the younger or prose Edda and the Heimskringla. Had it not been for the Icelandic writers, little would have been known of the early history of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. As interesting as these three are, the sagas or hero stories, some mythological or legendary and others real biography with perhaps no more exaggeration and glorification of their heroes than may be found in later biographies. Properly speaking the saga is the prose tale of the life of some hero. It is much like the epic except that the latter is inverse. The saga must have a simple plot, events must be told in the order of their occurrence, and in the strict saga form certain conventional phrases must be used in picturing even events that would arouse depth of feeling. These hero stories were at first recited, but they gradually worked their way into a regular and more artistic form and into writing. The best sagas come from the western part of the country. Here they were deeply affected by the influence of the Irish settlers. End of section 68. This recording is in the public domain. Section 69 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Search for the Poles. Read for LibriVox.org by Alan Mapstone. The Irish in Thula, 8th century, from the saga of Olaf Trigvesen. Thus says the holy priest Bede in the chronicles which he wrote concerning the regions of the earth. That the island which is called Thula in the books lies so far in the north part of the world that there comes no day in the winter when the night is longest and no night in summer when the day is longest. Therefore think learned men that it is Ireland which is called Thula, for there are many places in that land where the sun sets not at night when the day is longest and in the same manner where the sun cannot be seen by day when the night is longest. But the holy priest Bede died 735 years after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, more than 120 years before Ireland was inhabited by the Northmen. But before Iceland was colonised from Norway, men had been there whom the Northmen called Papas. They were Christians for after them were found Irish books, bells and croziers and many other things from whence it could be seen that they were Christian men and had come from the west over the sea. English books also show that in that time there was intercourse between the two countries. End of section 69. This recording is in the public domain. Section 70 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the poles. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the poles. Edited by Eva March Tappan, section 70. Glum and his man Ingolf, about 950 from Vigaglums saga. Glum was a real person who lived in the middle of the 10th century. The story of his exploits is told in the saga of Vigaglum, one of the earliest of the sagas. The following extract is full of allusions to the customs of early Iceland. The horse fights the atoning for blood shed by the payment of a fine. And the trick by which Ingolf gets the daughter of Thorkel for his wife. The editor. One. And one summer at the all thing that the northern men and those of the West first met one another on the wrestling ground in a match according to their districts. The Northerners had rather the worst of it. And their leader was Mar, the son of Glum. Now a certain man of the name of Ingolf, the son of Thorvald came up, whose father lived at Ranga Velur.  Do me the favor of going into the match and taking hold. His answer was, I will do so for your sake. And forth with the man he grappled with went down. And thus it was with the second and the third, so that the Northerners were well pleased. Then said Mar, if you want a good word on my part, I shall be ready to help you. What may be your plans? I have no plans he answered, but I had an inclination to go southward and get work. Well, rejoin Mar, I should like you to go with me. I will get you a place. Ingolf had a good horse of his own, which he called by the name of Snee Call. And he went northward to the Vera after the thing was over and stayed there some time. Mar asked him one day what he intended to do. There is an overlooker wanted here who ought to be somewhat handy. For instance, here is the sledge to be finished. And if you can do that, you can do something worth having. I should be too glad of such a place, said Ingolf, but it has sometimes happened that my horses have caused trouble in the pastures of the cattle. No one will talk about that here, answered Mar, so Ingolf said to work on the sledge. Glom came up and looked at what he was doing. That is a good piece of work he observed. What are your plans? Ingolf answered, I have no plans. Glom replied, I want an overlooker. Are you used to that sort of business? Not much in such a place as this, but I should be glad to stay with you. Why should it not be so, said Glom? For I see that you and Mar get on well together. When Mar came home, Ingolf told him what had passed. I should like it much. He answered, if it turns out well, and I will take care, if anything displeases my father, to tell you of it three times. But if you do not set it right, then I must stop. So Ingolf took to his business and Glom was pleased with him. One day Glom and Ingolf, his overlooker, went to a horse fight. The latter rode a mare, but the horse ran along by their side. The sport was good. Calf of stock calad was there. And he had an old working horse who beat all the others. He called out, why don't they bring into the ring that fine jawed beast of the Vera people. They are no fair match, said Glom, your cart horse and that stallion. Ah, exclaimed Calf, the real reason why you will not fight him is because he has no spirit in him. It may be the old proverb has proved true. The cattle are like their master. You know nothing about that, answered Glom, and I will not refuse on Ingolf's part, but the fight must not go on longer than he chooses. He will probably know well enough, said Calf, that little will be done against your wishes. The two horses were let out and fought well and all thought Ingolf's horse had the best of it. Glom then chose to separate them and they rode home. Ingolf remained that year in his place and Glom was well satisfied with him. Not long after this there was a meeting in Diyupadal with their Glom and Ingolf. With his horse came, Calf also was there. This last man was a friend of the people of Espihola, and he demanded that they should now let the horses fight it out. Glom said it depended on Ingolf, but that he himself was against it. However, he did not like to back out of it and the horses were let out accordingly. Calf spurred his horse on, but Ingolf's horse had the best of it in every contest. Then Calf struck Ingolf's horse over the ears with his staff in such a way as to make him giddy, but immediately afterwards he went at his adversary again. Glom came up and fair fighting was restored till in the end Calf's horse bolted from the ring. Then there was a great shout and at last Calf smote Ingolf with his stick. People interfered and Glom said, let us take no note of such a matter as this. This is the end of every horse fight. Mar on the other hand said to Ingolf depended upon it, my father does not intend that any disgrace shall attach to you for this blow. Two, there was a man named Thorkel who lived at Haymar. Ingolf went wither and met this man's daughter who was a handsome woman. Her father was well enough off, but he was not a person of much consideration in the country. Ingolf however attended properly to his duties as overlooker, but he did not work as a craftsman so much as he had done. Then Mar spoke to him once about it saying, I see that my father is not pleased that you're being often away from home. Ingolf gave a fair answer but it came to the same thing again and Mar warned him again a second and third time but it was no use. One evening it happened that he came home late and when the men had had their supper, Glom said, now let us amuse ourselves and let each of us say what or whom he most relies on. And I will have first choice. Well I choose three things on which I most rely. The first is my purse, the second is my axe, and the third is my larder. Then one man after another made his choice and Glom called out, whom do you choose, Ingolf? His answer was Thorkel of Haymar.  All men saw that Glom was wrong.  Why? replied he. How can I tell him this lie? You shall do as I please, answer Glom.  Ingolf did this, went to Thorkel and told him as news how he had not forgotten the blow Kalth had given him and how he had killed him.  I do not choose that you should be slain on my premises. Then Ingolf came back again to meet Glom who asked him, well how did your patron turn out? Not over well, said he, you will have trouble on your hands, remarked Glom, if Kalth of Stark a lot should really be killed. Now Glom himself had killed Kalth at Stark a lot whilst Ingolf was away and had thus taken vengeance for him and the following day Kalth's death was publicly known. Thorkel said at once that a fellow had come with her who had taken the death on himself so that everybody thought it was really so. The winter passed on and Glom sent Ingolf northward to the house of Ainar, the son of Konal, and gave him 900 elves of cloth. You have had no wages, he said from me, but with your saving habits you may turn this to good account and as regards this matter which is laid to your charge, I will take care of that. It shall not hurt you, I paid you off for your perverseness in this way and when you come home you may come and pay me a visit. Ingolf answered one thing I beg of you, do not let the woman be married to anyone else. This I promise you, said Glom, Ingolf's horses were left where they were. Ainar, the son of Konal, got Ingolf conveyed abroad, but Thorvald began a suit at her grain's thing for the slaughter of Kalth and it looked as if Ingolf would be found guilty. Glom was at the thing and some of Ingolf's kinsmen came to him and asked him to look after the case, professing their readiness to contribute to pay the fine for him. Glom told them I will see to the suit without any fine being paid. When the court went out to sit and the defendant was called on for his defense, Glom stated that the suit was null and void, for you have proceeded against the wrong man. He did the deed. Then he named his witnesses who were to certify that the suit was void, for though Ingolf did kill the calf in the barn, I did not make any charge against him for that. Now I will offer an atonement more according to the worth of the man killed than according to the pride of you men of Espohol. So he did and the people left the thing. Ingolf was abroad that winter and could stand it no longer, but turned his cash into goods and purchased valuable articles and tapestry hangings of rare quality. Glom had given him a good cloak and he exchanged that for a scarlet curdle. The summer that he had sailed there came out to Iceland. The man called The adult whose father lived at Asustad. He visited Hamar and fell in with Helga. One day Glom was riding up to Hull and as he went down the hill at Sarby, the adult met him. Glom said to him, I do not like your visits to Hamar. I mean myself to provide for Helga's marriage and if you do not give this up I shall challenge you to the Holm Gang. He answered that he was not going to match himself with Glom and so he left off going dither. Three. Then Ingolf came out to Iceland and went to the there and asked Glom to take him in, which was granted. One day he said, now Glom, I should like you to look over my merchandise. So he did and it seemed to him that Ingolf had laid out his money well. Then Ingolf said, you gave me the capital for this voyage and I consider all the goods as belonging to you. No, answer Glom, what you have got is not enough for me to take anything from you. Here, answered Ingolf, are some hangings which I purchased for you. These you shall accept and here is a curdle. I will accept your gifts, replied Glom. Another time Glom asked him if he wished to remain at home with him and Ingolf answered that his intention was not to part from him if he had the choice of staying. My stud horses, I will give you, he said and Glom replied, the horses I will accept and now today we will go and find Thorkel at Hamar. Thorkel received Glom well and the latter said, you are wronged Ingolf and now you must make it up to him by giving him your daughter in marriage. He is a proper man for this match.  If you do not act thus, you will see that you have made a bad business of it, so Thorkel consented and Ingolf got his wife and settled down as a householder and a good useful man. End of section 70. This recording is in the public domain. Section 71 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The World Story Volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles. Edited by Eva March Tappen. Section 71, how Kjartan of Iceland became a Christian. About 1,000 from the Lax dealers saga. There were ten Icelanders together who went with Kjartan on his journey and none would part with him for the sake of the love they bore him. So with this following, Kjartan went to the ship and Kjalf asked Gerson, greeted them warmly. Kjartan and Boli took great many goods with them abroad. They now got ready to start and when the wind blew, they sailed out along Bergfurt with the lighting good breeze and then out to sea. They had a good journey and got to Norway to the northwards and fell in with men there and asked for tidings. They were told that change of lords over the land had befallen in that Earl Heikon had fallen and King Olaf Trigvesen had come in and all Norway had fallen under his power. King Olaf was ordering a change of faith in Norway and the people took to it most unequally. Kjartan and his companions took their craft up to Nadaris. At that time many Icelanders had come to Norway who were men of high degree. There lay beside the landing stage three ships all owned by Icelanders. One of the ships belonged to Brandt, the bounteous son of Vermont Thor Grimson and another should belong to Halfred the Trouble Bard. The third ship belonged to two brothers one named Bjarni and the other Thor Hall. They were sons of Broad River Skaggy out of Flea live in the east. All these men had wanted to go west to Iceland that summer but the king had forbidden all these ships to sail because the Icelanders would not take the new faith that he was preaching. All the Icelanders greeted Kjartan warmly but especially Brandt as they had known each other already before. The Icelanders now to counsel together and came to an agreement among themselves that they would refuse this faith that the king preached and all the men previously named bound themselves together to do this. Kjartan and his companions brought their ship up to the landing stage and unloaded it and disposed of their goods. King Olaf was then in the town he heard of the coming of the ship and that men of great account were on board. It happened one fair weather day in the autumn that the men went out of the town to swim in the river Nid. Kjartan and his friends saw this then Kjartan said to his companions that they should also go and to sport themselves that day. They did so. There was one man who was by much the best at this sport. Kjartan asked Boley if he felt willing to try swimming against the townsmen. Boley answered I don't think I'm a match for him. I cannot think where your courage can now have got to said Kjartan so I shall go and try. Boley replied that you may do if you like. Kjartan then plunges into the river and up to this man who was the best swimmer and drags him forth with under and keeps him down for a while and then lets him go up again and when they had been up for a long while this man suddenly clutches Kjartan and drags him under and keeps him down for such a time as Kjartan thought quite enough when up they come a second time. Not a word had either to say to the other the third time they went down together and now they keep under for much the longest time and Kjartan now missed out at him how this play would end and thought he had never before found himself in such a tight place but at last they come up and strike out for the bank. Then said the townsmen Kjartan answered in his name the townsmen said you are very deft at swimming or you as good at other deeds of prowess as at this Kjartan answered rather coldly he was said when I was in Iceland that the others kept pace with this one but now this one is not worth much the townsmen replied it makes some odds with whom you have had to do but why do you not ask me anything Kjartan replied I do not want to know your name Kjartan answered you are not only a stalwart man but you bear yourself very proudly as well but nonetheless you shall know my name and with whom you have been having a swimming match here is Olaf the king the son of Trigvee Kjartan answered nothing but turned away forthwith without his cloak he had a curdle of red scarlet the king was then well now dressed he called to Kjartan and bad him not go away so soon Kjartan turned back but rather slowly the king then took a very good cloak off his shoulders and gave it to Kjartan saying he should not go back cloakless to his companions Kjartan thanked the king for the gift and went to his own men and showed them the cloak his men were no wise pleased at this for they thought Kjartan had got too much into the king's power but matters went on quietly the weather set him very hard that autumn and there was a great deal of frost the season being cold it was not to be wondered at that the weather should be so bad it is all because of the new fangle ways of the king and this new faith that the gods are angry the Icelanders kept all together in the town during the winter and Kjartan took mostly the lead among them on the weather taking a turn for the better many people came to the town at the summons of king Olaf many people have become Christians in Thranholm yet there were many more who withstood the king one day the king had a meeting out at Arar and preached the new faith to men along Harang and Telling the people of Thranholm had a whole host of men and in turn offered battle to the king the king said they must know that he had greater things to cope with than fighting there with churls out of Thranholm then the good men lost heart and gave the whole case into the king's power the people were baptized then and there after that the meeting came to an end that same evening the king sent men to the lodgings of the Icelanders and bade them get sure knowledge of what they were saying they did so they heard much noise within then Kjartan began to speak and said to Boli how far are you willing kinsmen to take this new faith the king preaches I certainly am not willing there too said Boli the faith seems to me to be most feeble Kjartan said did ye not think the king was holding out threats against those who should be unwilling to submit to his will Boli answered it certainly seemed to me that he spoke out very clearly that they would have to take exceedingly hard treatment at his hands I will be forced under no one's thumb said Kjartan while I have power to stand up and wield my weapons I think it most unmanly too be taken like a lamb in a fold or a fox in a trap I think that is a better thing to choose if a man must die in any case to do first some such deed as shall be held aloft for a long time afterwards Boli said what will you do I will not hide it from you Kjartan replied I will burn the king in his hall there is nothing cowardly in that said Boli but this is not likely to come to pass as far as I can see the king I think it is one of great good luck and his guardian spirit mighty and besides he has a faithful guard watching both day and night Kjartan said that what most men failed in was daring however valiant they might otherwise be Boli said it was not so certain who would have to be taunted for want of courage in the end but here many men joined in saying that was but an idle talk that when the king's spies had overheard this he went away and told the king all that had been said the next morning the king wished to hold a meeting and summoned all the Icelanders to it and when the meeting was opened the king stood up and thanked men for coming all those who were his friends and had taken the new faith then he called to him for a parlay the Icelanders the king asked them if they would be baptized but they gave little reply to that the king said they were making for themselves the choice that would answer the worst but by the way who of you thought it the best thing to do to burn me in my hall then Kjartan answered you no doubt think that he who did say it would not have the plug to confess it but here you can see him I can indeed see you said the king man of no small councils but it is not fated for you to stand over my head done to death by you and you have done quite enough that you should be prevented making a vow to burn more kings in their houses yet for the reason of being taught better things than you know and because I do not know whether your heart was in your speech and that you have bravely acknowledged it I will not take your life it may also be that you follow the faith the better the more outspoken you are against it and I can also see this that on the day you let yourself be baptized of your own free will that day also take the faith and I think it likely to happen that your relations and friends will give much heed to what you speak to them when you return to Iceland and it is in my mind that you Kjartan will have a better faith when you return from Norway than you had when you came hither go now in peace and safety where so ever you like from the meeting for the time being you shall not be tormented into Christianity God says that he wills that no one shall come to him unwillingly good cheer was made at the king's speech though mostly from the Christian men but the heathen left it to Kjartan to answer as he liked Kjartan said we thank you king that you grant safe peace unto us and the way whereby you may most surely draw us to take the faith is on the one hand to forgive us great offenses and on the other to speak to find the manner on all matters in spite of your this day having us and all our concerns in your power even as it pleases you now as for you myself I shall receive the faith in Norway on that understanding alone that I shall give some little worship to Thor the next winter when I get back to Iceland then the king said and smiled it may be seen from the mean of Kjartan that he puts more trust in his own weapons and strength than in Thor and Odin then the meeting was broken up after a while many men egged the king on to force Kjartan and his followers to receive the faith and thought it unwise to have so many heathen men near about him the king answered wrathfully and said he thought there were many Christians who were not nearly so well behaved as was Kjartan or his company either and for such one would have long to wait the king caused many profitable things to be done that winter he had a church built in the market town greatly enlarged this church was finished at Christmas then Kjartan said they should go so near the church that they might see the ceremonies of this faith the Christians followed and many fell in saying that would be right good pastime Kjartan with his following and Boli went to the church in that train was also Halford and many other Icelanders the king preached the faith before the people and spoke both long and tellingly and the Christians made good cheer at his speech and when Kjartan and his company went back to their chambers a great deal of talk arose as to how they had liked the looks of the king at this time which Christians accounted of as the next greatest festival for the king said so that we might hear that this night was born the Lord in whom we are now to believe if we do as the king bids us Kjartan says so greatly was I taken with the looks of the king when I saw him for the first time that I knew at once that he was a man of the highest excellence and that feeling has kept steadfast ever since when I have seen him at folk meetings that but by much the best however I like the looks of him today and I cannot help thinking that the turn of our concerns hangs all together on our believing to be the true God in whom the king bids us to believe and the king cannot by any means be more eager in wishing that I take this faith than I am to let myself be baptized the only thing that puts off my going straight way to see the king now is that the day is far spent and the king I take it is now at table but that day will be delayed on which we companions will let ourselves be baptized Boli took to this kindly and bad Kyarton alone looked to their affairs the king had heard of this talk between Kyarton and his people before the tables were cleared away for he had his spies in every chamber of the heathen the king was very glad at this and said and Kyarton has come to the saw high tides best for happy signs and the first thing the next morning early when the king went to church Kyarton met him in the street of men Kyarton greeted the king with great cheerfulness and said he had a pressing errand with him the king took his greeting well and said he had had a thoroughly clear news as to what his errand must be and that matter will be easily settled by you Kyarton begged they should not delay fetching the water and said that a great deal would be needed the king answered and smiled yes Kyarton said he on this matter I do not think your eager mindedness would not even if you put the price higher still after that Kyarton and Boli were baptized and all their crew and a multitude of other men as well this was on the second day of Yule before holy service after that the king invited Kyarton to his Yule feast with Boli his kinsmen it is the tale of most men that Kyarton on the day he laid aside his white baptismal robes became a leechman of the kings he and Boli took to the Yule Halford was not baptized that day for he made it a point that the king himself should be his godfather so the king put it off till the next day Kyarton and Boli stayed with Olaf the king the rest of the winter the king held Kyarton before all other men for the sake of his race and manly prowess and it is by all people said that Kyarton was so winsome that he had not a single enemy within the court he had not come from Iceland such a man as Kyarton Boli was also one of the most starward of men and was held in high esteem by all good men the winter now passes away and as spring came on men got ready for their journeys each as he had a mind to end of section 71 this recording is in the public domain section 72 of Norway Sweden Greenland and the search for the poles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by NEMA the world story volume 8 Norway Sweden Denmark Iceland Greenland and the search for the poles by Eva Marchdappen section 72 Thangbrand the priest about one thousand by Henry Wadsworth Longpilla the Himes Kringla tells the following story of the attempt of King Olaf to introduce Christianity in Iceland now one as Olaf Trigvasen had been king over Norway two winters there was with him a Saxon priest named Thangbrand masterful was he and murderous but a good clerk and a doubty man now one as he was so headstrong a man the king would not have him with him but sent him on this message to it to fare out to Iceland and christen the land there so a merchant ship was gotten for him in the tale telleth about his journey that he made the East Firths of Iceland Swan Firth the south most to it in the winter after abode with Hall of the side so Thangbrand preached christening in Iceland and after his words Hall let himself be christened and all his household and many other chieftains also notwithstanding many more there were who gained said him Thorvald the guy full in winter Lydus Skald made a scurvy rhyme about Thangbrand but he slew them both Thangbrand abode three winters in Iceland and was the bane death of three men or ever he departed thence the editor short of stature large of limb burly face and russet beard all the women stirred in him when in Iceland he appeared look they said with nodding head Thangbrand Olaf's priest all the prayers he knew by wrote he could preach like christened stone from the fathers he could quote he had even been at Rome a learned clerk a man of mark was the Thangbrand Olaf's priest he was quarrelsome and loud and impatient of control boisterous in the market crowd everywhere would drink and swear swaggering Thangbrand Olaf's priest in his house this malcontent could the king no longer bear so to Iceland he was sent to convert the heathen there and away one summer day sailed this Thangbrand Olaf's priest there in Iceland or their books poured the people day and night but he did not like their looks nor the songs they used to write all this rhyme is waste of time grumbled Thangbrand Olaf's priest to the alehouse where he sat came the scalds and sagamen is it to be wondered at that they quarreled now and then when or his beer began to leer drunken Thangbrand Olaf's priest all the folk and felt a fjord boasted of their island grand saying in a single word Iceland is the finest land that the sun doth shine upon loud laughed Thangbrand Olaf's priest and he answered what's the use of this bragging up and down when three women and one goose make a market in your town every scald on poor Thangbrand Olaf's priest something worse they did than that and what vexed him most of all was a figure in shovel hat drawn in charcoal on the wall with words that go sprawling below this is Thangbrand Olaf's priest hardly knowing what he did then he smote them might and main Tharvald vile lay there in the alehouse lane today we are gold tomorrow mulled muttered Thangbrand Olaf's priest much in fear of axe and rope back to Norway sailed he then oh king Olaf little hope is there of these Iceland men meekly said with bending head pious Thangbrand Olaf's priest end of section 72 this recording is in the public domain section 73 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, and the search for the polls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by April 6-0-9-0 the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, and the search for the polls edited by Eva March Tappen section 73 of Gretyr the outlaw saved the farmhouse early 11th century from the saga of Gretyr the strong rewritten by Sabine Beringould king Olaf had decided that Gretyr must leave Norway and return to Iceland if he was not a guilty man he was a most unfortunate one now the Norse race whether in Denmark, Norway, Sweden or Iceland believed in luck they said that certain men were born too ill luck and such men they avoided because they feared lest the ill luck that clung to them might attack itself too and involve those who came in contact with them it was not possible for Gretyr to return that year to Iceland for all the ships bound for his native land had sailed before winter set in so king Olaf agreed to allow him to remain in the kingdom through the winter but bound him to depart on the first opportunity next year somewhat sad at heart with disappointment and with the impression that perhaps Olaf the king was right and that ill luck really did weigh on him Gretyr left the court and went at Yule to the house of a bonder or yeoman called Enar and remained with him a while the farm was in a lonely place in a ford opening back to the snowy mountains Enar was a kindly man the hospitable and he did his best to make Gretyr stay with him pleasant he had a daughter, a fair beautiful girl with blue eyes and hair like amber silk and her name was Giri perhaps the beautiful Giri was one attraction to Gretyr but if so he never spoke what was on his heart because he knew it would be useless he was an unlucky man he had made himself a name indeed as one of great daring but he had one for himself neither home nor riches nor favor now it fell out that at this time there were some savage ruffians in the country who were called bearsarks they were outlaws in most cases and they lived in secret dens in the dense forests once they issued and swooped down on the farms and there challenged the bonders to fight with them or to give up to them whatever they needed these ruffians were bearskins drawn over their bodies and they thrust their heads through the jaws of the beasts so that they presented a hideous and frightening appearance then they worked themselves into the faces of rage when they were like mad men they rolled their eyes they roared and howled like wild beasts and foam formed on their mouths and dropped on the ground they were want also when these fits came on them to bite the edges of their shields and with their fangs they were known to have dented the metal quite deep some folks even said they had bitten pieces out of solid shields these bearsarks were possessed by evil spirits and it is probable in many cases they were really mad mad through having given way to their violent passions so they knew no law and thought to carry everything before them by their violence it was even at one time thought by the superstitious that they could change their shapes and run about at will in the forms of bears or wolves but this idea grew out of the fact that they were clothing themselves in bear or wolf skins and drawn the skull of the beast over their heads as a rude helmet and looking out through the open jaws that thus formed a visor one day just after Yule to the terror and dismay of Enar one of the most redoubtable of these bearsarks a fellow named Snookle came thundering up to his door on a huge black horse followed by three or four others on foot clothed in skins a Snookle instead of wearing the bear's skin over his head had on a helmet with great tusks of a boar protruding from it and a boar's head drawn over the metal it is worth remark that the crest worn later by knights in which we have still on our plate and on harness are derived from similar adornments to helmets some warriors put wings of eagles on their head pieces others put the paws of bears on their heads and on their heads and on their heads and on their heads and on their heads and on their heads these were badges of their prowess or marks whereby they might be known Snookle struck the door of the farmhouse with his spear and roared to the owner to come forth at once Enar and Gretier issued from the hall and Enar in great trebitation give me up your beautiful daughter to be my wife and with her five score bags of silver or else that you fight me here if you kill me then luck is yours if I kill you then I shall carry off your daughter and all that you possess Enar turned to Gretier and asked him in a whisper what he was to do he himself was an old man whose fighting days were over and he had no chance against this savage and Gretier answered that he had better consult his honor and the happiness of Girin and not give way to a bully the bear sark sat on his horse rolling his eyes from one to the other he had a great iron rimmed shield before him then he bellowed forth come I'm not going to wait here whilst you consider matters make your selection of the two alternatives at once what is that great loud at your side whispering does he want to play a little game of who is master along with me for my part said Gretier the farmer and I are about in equal predicament he is too old to fight and I am unskilled in arms I see, I see Lord Snocal you are both trembling in your shoes wait till my fit is on me and then you will shake indeed let us see how you look in your bear sark fit said Gretier then Snocal waxed Roth and worked himself up into one of the fits of madness there can be no doubt that in some cases this was all bluster and sham but in many cases these fellows really roused themselves into perfect frenzies of madness in which they did not know what they did now Snocal began to bellow like a bowl and to roll his eyes to the edge of the great shield in his mouth and bit at it and blew foam from his lips that rolled down the face of the shield Gretier fixed his eyes steadily on him and put his hands in his pockets Snocal rocked himself on his horse and his companions began also to bellow and stir themselves up into madness Gretier with his eye fixed steadily on the ruffian drew little by little near to him but as he had no weapon and held his hands confined Snocal, if he did observe him disregarded him when Gretier stood close beside him and looked up at the red glaring eyes the foaming lips of Snocal and heard his howls and the crunching of his great teeth against the strong oak and iron of the shield he suddenly laughed lifted his foot caught the bottom of the shield a sudden kick upwards and the shield with the violence of the guard's shock broke Snocal's jaw instantly the bear sark stopped his bellowing let fall the shield and before he could draw his sword Gretier cut his helmet by the great vortex gave them a twist and rolled Snocal down off his horse on the ground knelt on him and with the ruffian's own sword dealt him his death below when the other saw the fall of their chief they ceased their antics turned and ran away to hide in the woods the bonder Enar thanked Gretier for his assistance and the lovely Gearyd gave him also her grateful acknowledgments and a sweet smile but Gretier knew that a portionless unlucky man like himself could not aspire to her hand and feeling that he was daily becoming more attached to her he deemed it right at once to leave and he went away to a place called Toonsburg End of section 73 this recording is in the public domain section 74 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Search for the Pulse this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Catherine the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Search for the Pulse edited by Eva March Tappan section 74 the Burning of Nyarl 1014 from the saga of Burnt Nyarl the great Icelandic saga of Burnt Nyarl tells a story of one of those bitter feuds with which the early history of Iceland is filled Nyarl the Hero is an honest lawyer who has incurred the hatred and powerful families how they took vengeance upon him is told in the following extract the editor one day it happened that Rodney Husgold's daughter the mother of Husgold Nyarl's son came to the springs her brother greeted her well but she would not take his greeting but yet made him go out with her Ingjöl did so and went out with her and so they walked away from the farmyard both together then she clutched hold of him and they both sat down and Rodney said is it true that thou has sworn an oath to fall on Nyarl and slay him and his sons true it is said he a very great dastard are thou she said thou whom Nyarl hath thrice saved from outlawry still it hath come to this says Ingjöl that my life lies on it if I do not this not so says she thou shalt live all the same and be called a better man if thou betrays not him to whom thou oughtst to behave best then she took a linen hood out of her back it was clotted with blood all over and torn and tattered and said how scald Nyarl's son and thy sister's son had on his head when they slew him me thinks then it is ill-doing to stand by those from whom this mischief sprang well answers Ingjöl so it shall be that I will not be against Nyarl whatever follows after but still I know that they will turn and throw trouble on me now mightest thou said Rodney told Nyarl and his son's great help if thou tellest him all these plans that I will not do says Ingjöl for then I am every man's dastard if I tell what was trusted to me in good faith but it is a manly deed to sunder myself from this quarrel when I know that there is a shore looking for vengeance but tell Nyarl and his son's to be aware of themselves all summer for that will be good counsel and to keep many men about them then she feared to Bargthorn's knoll and told Nyarl all this talk and Nyarl thanked her and said she had done well for there would be more wickedness in his falling on me than of all men else she feared home but she told this to his sons there was a carlin at Bargthorn's knoll whose name was Savuna she was wise in many things and foresighted but she was then very old and Nyarl's sons called her an old dotard when she talked so much but still some things which she said came to pass it fell one day that she took a cudgel in her hand and went up above the house to a stack of etches she beat the stack of etches with her cudgel and wished it might never thrive wretch that it was Scarpeadin laughed at her and asked why she was so angry with a vetch stack this stack of etches said the carlin will be taken and lighted with fire when Nyarl my master is burnt house and all and Bargthorah my foster child take it away to the water or burn it up as quick as you can we will not do that said Scarpeadin for something else will be got to light fire with if that were for doomed though this stack were not here the carlin babbled the whole summer about the vetch stack that it should be got indoors but something always hindered it when Nyarl realized that the arrow of fate had come and his enemies were upon him he counseled that his men shut themselves up in the house the attacks of the leader flossy fail and he then plans to set fire to the building at last flossy said we have already gotten great manscafe in our men many are wounded and he slain whom we would choose last of all it is now clear that we shall never master them with weapons many now there be who were not so forward in fight as they boasted and yet they were those who goaded us on most I say this most to Granny Gunnar's son and Gunnar Lambi's son who were the least willing to spare their foes but still we shall have to take to some other plan for ourselves and now there are but two choices left and neither of them good one is to turn away and that is our death the other to set fire to the house and burn them inside it and this is a deed which we shall have to answer for heavily before God since we are Christian men ourselves but still we must take to that council now they took fire and made a great pile before the doors then Scarpedin said what lads are you lighting a fire or are you taking to cooking so it shall be answered Granny Gunnar's son and thou shall not need to be better done thou repayest me said Scarpedin as one may look for from the man that thou art I avenged thy father and thou setest most store by that duty which is farthest from thee then the women threw way on the fire and quenched it as fast as they lit it some too brought water then Kohl Thursday's son said to Flossy a plan comes into my mind I have seen a loft over the hall among the cross trees and we will put the fire in there and light it with a vetch stack that stands just above the house then they took the vetch stack and set fire to it and they who were inside were not aware of it till the whole hall was a blaze over their heads then Flossy and his men made a great pile before each of the doors and then the womenfolk who were inside began to weep and to wail Njall spoke to them and said keep up your hearts nor utter shrieks for this is but a passing storm and it will be long before you have another such and put your faith in God and believe that he is so merciful that he will not let us burn both in this world and the next such words of comfort had he for them all another still more strong now the whole house began to blaze then Njall went to the door and said is Flossy so near that he can hear my voice Flossy said that he could hear it will thou said Njall take an atonement from my sons or allow any men to go out I will not answers Flossy take any atonement from thy sons and now our dealings shall come to an end once for all and I will not stir from this spot till they are all dead but I will allow the women and children and house-carls to go out then Njall went into the house and said to the folk now all those must go out to whom leave is given and so go thou out Thorhala asked Grim's daughter and all the people also with thee who may then Thorhala said this is another parting between me and Helgi than I thought of a while ago but still I will egg on my father and brothers to avenge this mans cave which is wrought here go and good go with thee said Njall for thou art a brave woman after that she went out and much folk with her then Austria of Deepak said to Helgi Njall's son come thou out with me and I will throw a woman's cloak over thee and tie thy head with a kerchief he spoke against it at first but at last he did so at the prayer of others so Austria wrapped the kerchief around Helgi's head but Thorhala, Scarpeden's wife threw the cloak over him and he went out between them and then Thorgerda, Njall's daughter and Helga her sister and many other folk went out too but when Helgi went out Flossy said that is a tall woman and broad across the shoulders that went yonder take her and hold her but when Helgi heard that he cast away the cloak he had got his sword under his arm and hewed at a man and the blow fell on his shield and cut off the point of it and the mans leg as well then Flossy came up and hewed at Helgi's neck and took off his head at a stroke then Flossy went to the door and called out to Njall and said he would speak with him and Bergthorah now Njall does so and Flossy said I will offer thee master Njall leave to go out for it is unworthy that thou should burn indoors I will not go out said Njall for I am an old man and I am committed to avenge my sons but I will not live to shame then Flossy said to Bergthorah come thou out housewife for I will for no sake burn thee indoors I was given to Njall young said Bergthorah and I have promised him this that we would both share the same fate after that they both went back into the house what council shall we now take said Bergthorah we will go to our bed said Njall and lay us down I have long been eager for rest then she said to the boy thord curry son thee will I take out and thou shall not burn in here thou has promised me this grandmother says the boy that we should never part so long as I wish to be with thee but me thinks it is much better to die with thee and Njall than to live after you then she bore the boy to her bed and Njall spoke to his steward and said now shall thou see where we lay us down and how I lay us out for I mean not to stir an inch hence whether reek or burning smart me and so thou wilt be able to guess where to look for our bones he said he would do so there had been an ox slaughtered and the hide lay there Njall told the steward to spread the hide over them and he did so so there they laid them down both of them in their bed and put the boy between them then they signed themselves and the boy with the cross and gave over their souls into God's hand and that was the last word that men heard them utter end of section 74 this recording is in the public domain section 75 of Norway Sweden, Denmark Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles edited by Eva March Tappen section 75 how the boy Sigurd won the horse Greifel by William Morris the story of the Nibelungs takes different forms in different countries in Germany it is called the Nibelungen lead and its hero is Siegfried who dwells near the Rhine in the north the hero is Sigurd the greatest of the Vulsongs but the outline of the story is much the same the editor so is Sigurd now with Raken and he learns him many things ye all save the craft of battle that men learn the sons of kings the smithy-ing sword and war coat the carving ruins are right the tongues of many countries the raw speech remains delight the dealing with the harp strings and the winding ways of song so wise of heart wax Sigurd and of body wonder is strong and he chased the deer of the forest and many a wood wolf slew and many a bull of the mountains and the desert dales he knew and the heats that the winds weeps over and seaward would he fare far out from the stair on the day he sat with Raken and missed the unfashioned gold and the silver gray from the furnace and Raken spake and told sweet tales of the days that had been and the kings of the bold and wise till the lad's heart swelled the longing and lit his sun-bright eyes then Raken looked upon him thou too shalt one day rise as the Vulsong kings went faring through the noble world wide for this land is not and narrow and kings of the carls are these and their earls are acroboters and their hearts are dull with peace but Sigurd knit his brows and in wrathful wise he said, bill words of those thou speaketh that my youth have cherished and the friends that have made me merry in the land that is fair and good then Raken laughed and answered nay well I see by thy mood wide wilt thou ride in the world like thy kin of the earlier days and wilt thou be wroth with thy master that he longs for thy winning the praise now of the sooth thou sayeth that these kingfolk cherish thee well then let them give thee a gift whereof the world shall tell yea, Harken to this my counsel and crave for a battle-steed yet wroth was the lad and answered I have many a horse to my need and all that the heart desireeth and what wouldest thou wish me more then Raken answered and said thy kin of the kings of yore were the noblest men of menfolk and their hearts would never rest what so of good they had gotten if their hands held not the best now do thou my counsel and crave of thy fosterers here that thou choose of the horse of grip here which so thine heart holds dear he spake and his harp was with him and he smote the strings full sweet and sang of the host of the valkyries how they ride the battle to meet and the dew from the dear mains dripeth as they ride in the first of the sun and the tree vows open to meet it when the wind of the dawning is done and the deep dales drink at sweetness and spring into blossoming grass and the earth groweth fruitful of men and bringeth their glory to pass then the wrath ran off from secret and he left the smithy instead while the song yet rang in the doorway and that eve to the kings he said will you do so much from mine asking as to give me a horse to my will for be like the day shall come that shall all my heart fulfill and teach me the deeds of a king then answered king elf and spake the stalls of the kings are before thee to set aside or to take and not we begrudge thee the best yet answered sigurd again for his heart of the mountains aloft and the windy drift was feign fair seats for the knees of kings but now do I ask for a gift such as all the world shall be praising the best of the strong and the swift ye shall give me a token for grip here and bid him to let me choose from out of the noble stubbies that run in his meadow loose but if over much I have asked you forget this prayer of mine and deem the word unspoken and get ye to the wine then smiled king elf and answered a long way wilt thou ride to where on peace and troubles and the griefs of the soul abide day unto the death at the last it surely shalt thou win the praise of many a people so have thy way herein for sooth no more may we hold thee then may hold the sun of the early dawning that turneth all unto gold then sweetly sigurd thanked him and through the night he lay middreams of many a matter till the dawn was on the way then he shook the sleep from off him and that dwelling of kings he left and went his way unto grapere on a crag from the mountain raft was the house of the old king build it and a mighty house it was though few were the sons of man for its threshold would pass but the wild urns cried about it and the vultures toward it flew and the winds from the heart of the mountains searched every chamber through and about were meads wide spreading and many a beast thereon yea some that are men folks terror their sport and pasture won so into the hall went secret and a mist was grapere set in a chair of the seabeeth's tooth looking beard and I met the floor that was green as the ocean and his gown was of mountain gold and the kingly staff in his hand was knobbed with a crystal cold now the first of the twine spake grapere, hail king with the eye and bright, not needest thou show the token for I know of thy life and thy light and no need to tell of thy message it was wafted here on the wind that thou wist becoming today a horse in my metal to find and strong must he be for the bearing of those deeds of thine that shall be now choose thou of all the way-wares that are running loose in my lee and be glad as thine heart will have thee and the fate that leadeth thee on and I bid thee again come hither when the sword of worth is won and thy loins are girt for thy going on the road that before thee lies for a glimmering over its darkness has come before mine eyes then again get secret outward and down the steep he ran and unto the horse-fed metal, but low a grey-clad man, one eyed and seemingly ancient there met him by the way and he spake thou hastest secret yet tarry till I say a word that shall well be stead thee for I know of these mountains well and all the lee of grapere and the beast that there on dwell woest thou have red gold for thy tidings, art thou grapere's horse-herb then nay, sure, for thy face is shining like the battle-eager man my master Regan tells of, and I love thou clough-grade gown and thy visage gleams above it like a thing my dreams have known nay, whilst have I heated the horse-kind, then spake that elder of days, and soothe do the sages say when the beast of my breeding they praise there is one there of in the meadow, and woest thou cull him out, thou shalt follow an elder's counsel, who hath brought strange things about who hath known thy father a foretime and other kings of thy kin so secret said I am ready, what is the deed to win? he said we shall drive the horses down to the waterside that come forth from the mountains and note what next shall be tied then the twine sped on together and they draped the horses on till they came to a rushing river, a water-white and wand, and the white mew is hovered over it, but none might hear their cry for the rush and the rattle of waters as the down-long flood swept by so the whole herd took the river and strove the stream to stem and many a brave steed was there but the flood o'er-mastered them and some it swept them downward and some one back to bank, some caught by the net of the eddies in the swirling hubbub sank but one of all swam over and they saw his mane of grey toss over the flowery meadows a bright thing far away, why then he wheeled about them, then took the stream again, and with the waves white horses mingled his cloudy mane then spake the elder of days, hark and now seeker and here time was when I gave thy father a gift thou shalt yet deem dear and this horse is a gift of my giving, he'd not wear thou maced bride, for I've seen thy fathers in a shining house abide, and on earth they thought of its threshold and the gifts I had to give, though prayed for a little longer and a little longer to live. Then forth he strode to the mountains and then was seeker'd now to ask him many a matter, but dim did his bright shape grow as a man from the lit and doorway fades into the dusk of night and the sun in the high noon shone and the world was exceedingly bright, so seeker'd turn to the river and stood by the wave-wet strand and the grey horse swims to his feet and lightly leaps a land and the youngling looks upon him and deems none beside him good and indeed, as tells the story, he was come of Sapenair's blood, the tireless horse of Odin, cloud grey he was of Hugh, and it seemed as seeker'd backed him that Sigmund son he knew, so glad he went beneath him, then the youngling song arose as he brushed through the noontide blossoms of Grapeer's mighty clothes. Then he singeth the song of Graefil, the horse that Odin gave, who swam through the sweeping river and back through the toppling wave. End of section 75 this recording is in the public domain Section 76 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles, read for LibriVox.org by Sandra Schmidt Iceland, part 3 Iceland and its people historical note During the 13th century there was civil war, which broke the power of the chiefs, and the island then fell under Norwegian rule. When Norway came into the hands of Denmark in 1380 Iceland also became subject to Denmark, and so it has remained. In the early part of the 15th century, severe volcanic eruptions destroyed many lives and before the Icelanders had recovered from this disaster, two thirds of them were swept away by a visit of the Black Death, a terrible plague that devastated all Europe. This little prosperity remained was broken by severe navigation laws imposed by Denmark, by which a monopoly of the trade with the island was farmed out to the highest bidder. To at the end of the 18th century the laws were somewhat improved but even then nothing but coal and timber could be brought to the island by other Stendanes. During the Napoleonic wars Iceland was captured by the English but in 1815 was given back to Denmark. Since 1854 trade has been free but is chiefly in the hands of Denmark and England. For many years the Icelanders had striven to obtain home rule. In 1874 on the occasion of the thousands anniversary of the founding of Iceland partial freedom in the conduct of their affairs was given to them and in 1903 a new constitution was granted according to which the Alting or Parliament is responsible to the Danish king but through a minister, a native Icelander who divides the year between Reykjavik and Denmark. Throughout the centuries the Icelanders have retained their old love for literature and nowhere else in the world are there in proportion to the number of people so many poets or so many books printed and sold as in this barren island a scattered population of 76,000 supports 12 printing presses producing about 100 books annually besides 14 newspapers and 8 periodicals. End of section 76 This recording is in the public domain Chapter 77 of Norway, Sweden Denmark, Iceland Greenland and the search for the Poles This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Avai in August 2019 The world's story Volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles edited by Eva March Tappen Section 77 The Fire Mountains of Iceland 1783 by Lord Dufferin In appearance Hekla differs very little from the innumerable other volcanic hills with which the island is studded. Its cone consists of a pyramid of stone and scoriae rising to the height of about 5000 feet and welded together by bands of molten matter which have issued from its sides. From AD 1004 to 1766 there have been 23 eruptions occurring at intervals which have varied in duration from 6 to 76 years. The one of 1766 was remarkably violent. It commenced on the 5th of April by the appearance of a huge pillar of black sand mounting slowly into the heavens accompanied by subterranean thunders and all the other symptoms which precede volcanic disturbances. Then a coronet of flame encircled the crater, the masses of red rock, pumice and magnetic stones were flung out with tremendous violence to an incredible distance and in such continuous multitudes as to resemble a swarm of bees clustering over the mountain. One boulder of pumice 6 feet in circumference was pitched 20 miles away. Another of magnetic iron fell at a distance of 15. The surface of the earth was covered for a circuit of 150 miles with a layer of sand 4 inches deep. The air was so darkened by it that at a place of 140 miles off, white paper held up a little distance could not be distinguished from black. The fishermen could not put out to sea on account of the darkness and the inhabitants of the Orkney islands were frightened out of their senses by showers of what they thought must be black snow. On the 9th of April the lava began to overflow and ran for 5 miles in a south-westerly direction whilst, some days later in order that no element might be wanting to mingle in this devil's tarry-mari, a vast column of water like Robin Hood's second arrow split up through the cinder pillar to the height of several hundred feet. The horror of the spectacle being further enhanced by an accompaniment of subterranean canonading and diary ports, heard at a distance of 50 miles. Striking as all this must have been it sinks into comparative tameness and insignificance beside the infinitely more terrible phenomena which attended the eruption of another volcano called Skapta Jokul. Of all countries in Europe Iceland is the one which has been the most minutely mapped not even accepting the ordinance survey of Ireland. The Danish government seems to have had a hobby about it and the result has been a chart so beautifully executed that every little crevice, each mountain torrent, each flood of lava is laid down with an accuracy perfectly astonishing. One huge blank however in the southwest corner of this map of Iceland marries the integrity of its almost microscopic delineations. To every other part of the island the engineer has succeeded in penetrating. One vast space alone of about 400 square miles has defied his investigation. Over the area occupied by the Skapta Jokul amidst its mountain cradled fields of snow and icy ridges, no human foot has ever wondered. Yet it is from the bosom of this desert district that has descended the most frightful visitation ever known to have desolated the island. This event occurred in the year 1783. The preceding winter and spring had been unusually mild. Toward the end of May a light blueish fog began to float along the confines of the untrodden tracts of Skapta accompanied in the beginning of June by a great trembling of the earth. On the eighth of that month immense pillars of smoke collected over the hill country towards the north and coming down against the wind in a southerly direction enveloped the whole district of Sida in darkness. A whirlwind of ashes then swept over the face of the country and on the tenth innumerable firespouts were seen leaping and flaring amid the sea hollows of the mountain while the river Skapta one of the largest in the island having first rolled down to the plain a vast volume of fitted waters mixed with sand suddenly disappeared. Two days afterwards a stream of lava issuing from sources to which no one has ever been able to penetrate came sliding down the bed of the dried up river and in a little time it was six hundred feet deep and two hundred broad the glowing deluge overflowed its banks crossed the low country of middle land ripping the turf up before it like a table cloth and poured into a great lake whose affrighted waters flew hissing and screaming into the air at the approach of the fiery intruder. Within a few more days the basin of the lake itself was completely filled separated into two streams the unexhausted torrent again recommends its march in one direction overflowing some ancient lava fields in the other re-entering the channel of the Skapta and leaping down the lofty cataract of Stapafos. But this was not all while one lava flood had chosen the Skapta for its bed another descending in a different direction was working like ruin thin and on either side the banks of the Khverfis fliot rushing into the plain by all accounts with even greater fury and velocity whether the two issued from the same crater it is impossible to say as the sources of both were far away within the heart of the unapproachable desert and even the extent of the lava flow can only be measured from the spot where it entered the inhabited districts the stream which flowed down Skapta is calculated to be about 50 miles in length by 12 or 15 at its greatest breadth that which rolled down the Khverfis fliot at 40 miles in length by 7 in breadth where it was imprisoned between the high banks of Skapta the lava is 5 or 600 feet thick but as soon as it spread out into the plain its depth never exceeded 100 feet the eruption of sand, ashes, pumice and lava continued till the end of August when the plutonic drama concluded with a violent earthquake for a whole year a canopy of cindaladen cloud hung over the island sand and ashes irretrievably overwhelmed thousands of acres of fertile pastureage the Faroe island, the Shetlands and the Orkneys were deluged with volcanic dust which perceptibly contaminated even the pure skies of England and Holland mephitic vapors tainted the atmosphere of the entire islands even the grass which no cinder rain had stifled completely withered up the fish perished in the poisoned sea a moraine broke out among the cattle and a disease resembling scurvy attacked the inhabitants themselves Stevenson has calculated that 9000 men 28000 horses 11000 cattle 190000 sheep died from the effects of this one eruption the most moderate calculation puts the number of human deaths at upwards of 1300 and of cattle etc at about 156000 end of section 1777 section 78 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark Iceland, Greenland and the search for the poles this is LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by April 6,090 California United States of America the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark Iceland, Greenland and the search for the poles edited by Eva March Tappen section 78 climbing Mount Helke 1854 by Pliny Miles Hi Ho for Hekla Thursday, July 29 was a lofty one in my calendar the sun had many hours the start of us getting out she does here at two o'clock in the morning in early hour though found us in our saddles the morning was magnificently bright the mountain being visible clear to the curling wreath on the summit little patches of snow here and there near the top made a break in the broad black streams of lava that covered every part of the mountain we provided ourselves with every requisite for a long days journey my knapsack was well stored with things, solids and fluids and then I had my old scotch companion the tartan plaid to keep the cold away and each of us had a fine staff what the Swiss travelers call an Alpenstock but ours were Hekla stocks Iceland's stats some six feet long and armed with a strong sharp iron pike my traveling guide the farmer of Nofra and the reader's most humble servant we got the party not quite a princely retinue but enough yes and there was our dog Nero the top of the mountain was distant about seven miles of which we could ride nearly four away we galloped through some fine green meadows till we came to a mountain gorge on our right down which in numerous cascades poured a small river several ducks and water hens flew away as we approached their mountain home passing through this gorge we came into a circular meadow entirely shut in by mountains like an immense amphitheater and this was the last bit of productive land on our way towards the summit of Hekla a hut was erected there as a temporary residence for the farmer while gathering his head high precipitous hills of red lava overhung our path on the right but the ascent for some distance was gradual we galloped our horses over a gently ascending plane a fine volcanic sand high at the mountain side were several sheep but scarce a blade of grass could be seen where they stood perhaps they went up to enjoy the prospect of the green meadows far in the distance we soon found our mountain climbing was not going to be planned our ponies found it so too our route was intercepted by a broad and high stream of lava that extended six or seven miles towards the summit of the mountain we turned to the right in a southerly direction and for four or five hundred yards found it about as steep as our ponies could climb we took a zigzag course to relieve the animals and after half an hour's climbing found ourselves on a level table land nearly half a mile across we were now about a thousand feet above the lower region where we left the farmhouse and here we were obliged our horses the Icelanders have an ingenious way of fastening their animals so they will not stray they fasten all their horses in a circle tying the head of one to the tail of another and bringing the head of the first round to the tail of the last if they choose to travel they can but like John on his rocking horse they may gallop all day in one indeterminable circle and not get far when we left the horses extending away to our right was a large stream of lava one that came from the eruption of 1845 and though seven years had elapsed it was not yet cool and the smoke was rising from it in many places the streams of lava that run from the craters of volcanoes and which here in Iceland are seen on the plains as well as on the mountains are usually from twenty to forty feet deep from a hundred yards to half a mile in breadth and from one to ten miles long they are vast ridges of rough black rocks of a most forbidding aspect the largest masses weighing from one to three to four tons when it flows from the mountain it is a stream of molten mineral and its progress generally rather slow but dependent on the steepness of the mountain and the size and force of the stream often does not move more than from fifty to one hundred yards in a day but in some cases it may run several miles it soon begins to explode and break up by the expansion and escape of the air within it and by the force of the steam created by moisture on the surface of the ground beneath while the lava is breaking up for several days it keeps up a terrible roaring then this rough mass of snow lies unchanged in appearance for centuries after a long time it begins to turn a little brown and on its surface appears in minute particles one of the lowest order of masses at the height of about four thousand feet we first struck the snow this was the first snow I had trod since arriving in Iceland and as if the whole order of nature must be reversed here this snow was black not exactly the natural color but a complexion it had assumed from being so near the mouth of the volcano sand, ashes, dust, and smoke had coated and begrind so thoroughly that the whole surface was like fine charcoal a long valley was filled with it as near I could judge it was from five to fifty feet deep we passed over several snow banks that were many hundred yards in breadth we crossed their white color from the level country in the distance these snow banks looked like mere patches but here we found some of them nearly a quarter of a mile across we ascended the mountain from the west but now we were north of the summit and were most of the snow lay clouds now gathered round us and we had to grope our way in the fog for some time the ascent grew more precipitous and the climbing was exceedingly awesome the earth and lava now appeared of a red color we seemed to be approaching the region of the fire sulfurous fumes saluted our nostrils and weather cleared a little and suddenly before us yonder deep crater what a horrible chasm indeed it seemed like hell itself fire and brimstone literally dark curling smoke yellow sulfur and red cinders appearing on every side of it the crater was funnel shaped about 150 feet deep and about the same distance across at the top this was one of four craters where the fire burst out in 1845 after the eruption they had caved in and remained as we now saw them in a row above this one extending towards the top of the mountain or three other craters all similar in appearance our progress now was one of great danger at our left was the north side of the mountain and for a long distance it was a perpendicular wall dropping off more than a thousand feet below us a large stone overthrown never sent back an echo the craters were on our right and between these and the precipice on our left we threaded a narrow ridge of sand not wider than a common footpath a more awful scene or a more dangerous place that could never to be in had it not been for my long staff I could never have proceeded the dangers and tears of the scene were greatly increased by the clouds and cold wind that came upon our left and the smoke and sulfurous stint that rose from the craters on our right one moment in danger of falling over the perpendicular side of the mountain on the one hand and the next of being swallowed up in a burning crater on the other our path was exceedingly steep and for nearly a quarter of a mile we pursued it with slow and cautious steps old Nero saw the danger and set up a dismal howl a few minutes after he slipped and came near falling into the fiery pit in five minutes an animal or a man would have been baked to a cinder pursuing our way by the four craters our path widened and half an hour more brought us to the top of the mountain our purpose was accomplished we stood on the summit of Mount Tecla and it told some journey it had been for us I threw myself on the ground and took a look at the scene before me the top of the mountain was not a peak but broad and nearly flat with here and there a little irregularity of surface it was about a quarter of a mile across in one direction and some 50 roads the other way in several places were deep snow banks but as yet we saw no crater on the summit it was now two o'clock it having taken us about eight hours to make the ascent though we saw no crater we had very direct evidence that we were in close proximity to volcanic fires little eminences of lava stood up around us from which smoke issued under our feet felt warm on removing the earth to the depth of two or three inches it felt hot and on digging down anywhere to the depth of six inches smoke would burst out six inches deeper and no doubt a man might light a cigar I went close to a bank of snow to have something to cool my punch spread out my tartan flat on a warm piece of lava opened my knapsack sat down and dined I was far taken nearer lay at my feet the guides were conversing at a little distance the lava around me was warm and after a little time the weather cleared up and left a blue sky in clear atmosphere with a full opportunity to survey the wondrous panorama of nature that lay spread out below and around us end of section 78 this recording is in the public domain