Saga network
Egils saga Skallagrímssonar
Egil's Saga, trans. W. C. Green (1893). 92 chapters, 220 characters resolved, 165 distinct social edges (217 typed edge records across seven relation types — see Methods for why those two counts differ).
Network
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95 characters · 165 edges (217 typed edge records)
Network summary
0.037Density
0.148Avg. clustering
3.365Avg. path length
8Diameter
11Communities (Louvain)modularity 0.524
-0.127Degree assortativity
90.0%Structural balance9/10 triangles balanced
25Articulation pointsbridge characters
Metrics are computed on the semantic layer only (kinship, marriage, friendship, conversation, conflict, killing, support) — the much denser sentence co-occurrence layer (217 nodes, 1165 edges) is a baseline, not a claim about social structure. See Methods for what each number does and does not mean.
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Chapter 82: Hacon's wars and death. Poem on Arinbjorn
Long time did Egil dwell at Borg, and became an old man. But it is not told that he had lawsuits with any here in the land; nor is there a word of single combats, or war and slaughter of his after he settled down here in Iceland. They say that Egil never went abroad out of Iceland after the events already related. And for this the main cause was that Egil might not be in Norway, by reason of the charges which (as has been told before) the kings there deemed they had against him. He kept house in munificent style, for there was no lack of money, and his disposition led him to munificence. King Hacon, Athelstan's foster-son, long ruled over Norway; but in the latter part of his life Eric's sons came to Norway and strove with him for the kingdom; and they had battles together, wherein Hacon ever won the victory. The last battle was fought in Hordaland, on Stord-island, at Fitjar: there king Hacon won the victory, but also got his death-wound. After that Eric's sons took the kingdom in Norway. Lord Arinbjorn was with Harold Eric's son, and was made his counsellor, and had of him great honours. He was commander of his forces and defender of the land. A great warrior was Arinbjorn, and a victorious. He was governor of the Firth folk. Egil Skallagrimsson heard these tidings of the change of kings in Norway, and therewith how Arinbjorn had returned to his estates in Norway, and was there in great honour. Then Egil composed a poem about Arinbjorn, whereof this is the beginning: ARINBJORN'S EPIC, OR A PART THEREOF. 1. 'For generous prince Swift praise I find, But stint my words To stingy churl. Openly sing I Of king's true deeds, But silence keep On slander's lies. 2. 'For fabling braggarts Full am I of scorn, But willing speak I Of worthy friends: Courts I of monarchs A many have sought, A gallant minstrel Of guileless mood. 3. 'Erewhile the anger Of Yngling's son I bore, prince royal Of race divine. With hood of daring O'er dark locks drawn A lord right noble I rode to seek. 4. 'There sate in might The monarch strong, With helm of terror High-throned and dread; A king unbending With bloody blade Within York city Wielded he power. 5. 'That moon-like brightness Might none behold, Nor brook undaunted Great Eric's brow: As fiery serpent His flashing eyes Shot starry radiance Stern and keen. 6. 'Yet I to this ruler Of fishful seas My bolster-mate's ransom Made bold to bear, Of Odin's goblet O'erflowing dew Each listening ear-mouth Eagerly drank. 7. 'Not beauteous in seeming My bardic fee To ranks of heroes In royal hall: When I my hood-knoll Wolf-gray of hue For mead of Odin From monarch gat. 8. 'Thankful I took it, And therewithal The pit-holes black Of my beetling brows; Yea and that mouth That for me bare The poem of praise To princely knees. 9. 'Tooth-fence took I, And tongue likewise, Ears' sounding chambers And sheltering eaves. And better deemed I Than brightest gold The gift then given By glorious king. 10. 'There a staunch stay Stood by my side, One man worth many Of meaner wights, Mine own true friend Whom trusty I found, High-couraged ever In counsels bold. 11. 'Arinbjorn Alone us saved Foremost of champions From fury of king; Friend of the monarch He framed no lies Within that palace Of warlike prince. 12. 'Of the stay of our house Still spake he truth, (While much he honoured My hero-deeds) Of the son of Kveldulf, Whom fair-haired king Slew for a slander, But honoured slain. 13. 'Wrong were it if he Who wrought me good, Gold-splender lavish, Such gifts had cast To the wasteful tract Of the wild sea-mew, To the surge rough-ridden By sea-kings' steeds. 14. 'False to my friend Were I fairly called, An untrue steward Of Odin's cup; Of praise unworthy, Pledge-breaker vile, If I for such good Gave nought again. 15. 'Now better seeth The bard to climb With feet poetic The frowning steep, And set forth open In sight of all The laud and honour Of high-born chief. 16. 'Now shall my voice-plane Shape into song Virtues full many Of valiant friend. Ready on tongue Twofold they lie, Yea, threefold praises Of Thorir's son. 17. 'First tell I forth What far is known, Openly bruited In ears of all; How generous of mood Men deem this lord, Bjorn of the hearth-fire The birchwood's bane. 18. 'Folk bear witness With wond'ring praise, How to all guests Good gifts he gives: For Bjorn of the hearth-stone Is blest with store Freely and fully By Frey and Njord. 19. 'To him, high scion Of Hroald's tree, Fulness of riches Flowing hath come; And friends ride thither In thronging crowd By all wide ways 'Neath windy heaven. 20. 'Above his ears Around his brow A coronal fair, As a king, he wore. Beloved of gods, Beloved of men, The warrior's friend, The weakling's aid. 21. 'That mark he hitteth That most men miss; Though money they gather, This many lack: For few be the bounteous And far between, Nor easily shafted Are all men's spears. 22. 'Out of the mansion Of Arinbjorn, When guested and rested In generous wise, None with hard jest, None with rude jeer, None with his axe-hand Ungifted hie. 23. 'Hater of money Is he of the Firths, A foe to the gold-drops Of Draupnir born. . . . . . 24. 'Rings he scatters, Riches he squanders, Of avarice thievish An enemy still. . . . . . 25. 'Long course of life His lot hath been, By battles broken, Bereft of peace. . . . . . 26. 'Early waked I, Word I gathered, Toiled each morning With speech-moulding tongue. A proud pile built I Of praise long-lasting To stand unbroken In Bragi's town.'
Table of contents
1. Of Kveldulf and his sons2. Of Aulvir Hnuf3. The beginning of the rule of Harold Fairhair4. Battle of king Harold and Audbjorn5. The king's message to Kveldulf6. Thorolf resolves to serve the king7. Of Bjorgolf, Brynjolf, Bard, and Hildirida8. Of Bard and Thorolf9. Battle in Hafr's Firth10. Thorolf in Finmark11. The king feasts with Thorolf12. Hildirida's sons talk with Harold13. Thorgils goes to the king14. Thorolf again in Finmark15. King Harold and Harek16. Thorolf and the king17. Hildirida's sons in Finmark and at Harold's court18. Thorolf's ship is taken19. Thorolf retaliates20. Skallagrim's marriage21. Hallvard and his brother go after Thorolf22. Death of Thorolf Kveldulfsson23. The slaying of Hildirida's sons24. Kveldulf's grief25. Skallagrim's journey to the king26. Of Guttorm27. Slaying of Hallvard and Sigtrygg28. Of Skallagrim's land-taking29. Of Skallagrim's industry30. Of the coming out of Yngvar, and of Skallagrim's iron-forging31. Of Skallagrim's children32. Of lord Brynjolf and Bjorn, his son33. Bjorn goes to Iceland34. Of Skallagrim and Bjorn35. Thorolf goes abroad36. Of Eric Bloodaxe and Thorolf37. The journey to Bjarmaland38. Thorolf comes out to Iceland39. Kettle Blund comes out to Iceland40. Of Egil's and Skallagrim's games41. Of Bjorn42. Thorolf asks Asgerdr to wife43. Of Aulvir and Egil44. The slaying of Bard45. Flight of Egil46. Of Thorolf's and Egil's harrying47. Of the further harrying of Thorolf and Egil48. Of the banquet at earl Arnfid's49. Slaying of Thorvald Proud50. Of Athelstan king of the English51. Of Olaf king of Scots52. Of the gathering of the host53. Of the fight54. The fall of Thorolf55. Egil buries Thorolf56. Marriage of Egil57. Suit between Egil and Onund58. Of king Eric and Egil59. King Eric slays his brothers60. The slaying of Bergonund and Rognvald the king's son61. Death of Skallagrim62. Egil's voyage to England63. Egil recites the poem64. Egil's life is given him65. Egil goes to Norway66. Egil and Thorstein go before the king67. Egil slays Ljot the Pale68. Of Egil's journeyings69. Egil comes out to Iceland70. Egil goes abroad71. Egil's sadness72. Of Arinbjorn's harrying73. Mission to Vermaland74. Journey to Vermaland75. Parting of Egil and Armod76. Egil comes to landowner Alf77. Egil gathers tribute78. Egil and his band slay twenty-five men79. Egil comes to Thorfinn's. The harrying of king Hacon80. Of the marriages of Egil's daughters81. Death of Bodvar: Egil's poem thereon82. Hacon's wars and death. Poem on Arinbjorn83. Of Einar Helgi's son and Egil84. Of Thorstein Egil's son85. Of Aunund Sjoni and Steinar his son86. Slaying of Thrand87. Of Egil and Aunund Sjoni88. Of Thorgeir89. Thorstein goes to a feast90. Death of Egil Skallagrim's son91. Grim takes the Christian faith92. Of Thorstein's descendants