Laxdæla saga

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Size by Min weight 1Through chapter 78/78121 characters · 227 edges (341 typed edge records)

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0.031Density

0.211Avg. clustering

3.252Avg. path length

7Diameter

9Communities (Louvain)modularity 0.495

-0.159Degree assortativity

93.8%Structural balance15/16 triangles balanced

26Articulation pointsbridge characters

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Chapter

Chapter 19: Hrut Comes to Iceland

Now of Hoskuld it is to be told that his state is one of great honour, and that he is a great chieftain. He had in his keep a great deal of money that belonged to his (half) brother, Hrut, Herjolf's son. Many men would have it that Hoskuld's means would be heavily cut into if he should be made to pay to the full the heritage of his (Hrut's) mother. Hrut was of the bodyguard of King Harald, Gunnhild's son, and was much honoured by him, chiefly for the reason that he approved himself the best man in all deeds of manly trials, while, on the other hand, Gunnhild, the Queen, loved him so much that she held there was not his equal within the guard, either in talking or in anything else. Even when men were compared, and noblemen therein were pointed to, all men easily saw that Gunnhild thought that at the bottom there must be sheer thoughtlessness, or else envy, if any man was said to be Hrut's equal. Now, inasmuch as Hrut had in Iceland much money to look after, and many noble kinsfolk to go and see, he desired to go there, and now arrays his journey for Iceland. The king gave him a ship at parting, and said he had proved a brave man and true. Gunnhild saw Hrut off to his ship, and said, "Not in a hushed voice shall this be spoken, that I have proved you to be a most noble man, in that you have prowess equal to the best man here in this land, but are in wits a long way before them". Then she gave him a gold ring and bade him farewell. Whereupon she drew her mantle over her head and went swiftly home. Hrut went on board his ship, and put to sea. He had a good breeze, and came to Broadfirth. He sailed up the bay, up to the island, and, steering in through Broadsound, he landed at Combness, where he put his gangways to land. The news of the coming of this ship spread about, as also that Hrut, Herjolf's son, was the captain. Hoskuld gave no good cheer to these tidings, and did not go to meet Hrut. Hrut put up his ship, and made her snug. He built himself a dwelling, which since has been called Combness. Then he rode to see Hoskuld, to get his share of his mother's inheritance. Hoskuld said he had no money to pay him, and said his mother had not gone without means out of Iceland when she met with Herjolf. Hrut liked this very ill, but rode away, and there the matter rested. All Hrut's kinsfolk, excepting Hoskuld, did honour to Hrut. Hrut now lived three winters at Combness, and was always demanding the money from Hoskuld at the Thing meetings and other law gatherings, and he spoke well on the matter. And most men held that Hrut had right on his side. Hoskuld said that Thorgerd had not married Herjolf by his counsel, and that he was her lawful guardian, and there the matter dropped. That same autumn Hoskuld went to a feast at Thord Goddi's, and hearing that, Hrut rode with twelve men to Hoskuldstead and took away twenty oxen, leaving as many behind. Then he sent some men to Hoskuld, telling them where he might search for the cattle. Hoskuld's house-carles sprang forthwith up, and seized their weapons, and words were sent to the nearest neighbours for help, so that they were a party of fifteen together, and they rode each one as fast as they possibly could. Hrut and his followers did not see the pursuit till they were a little way from the enclosure at Combness. And forthwith he and his men jumped off their horses, and tied them up, and went forward unto a certain sandhill. Hrut said that there they would make a stand, and added that though the money claim against Hoskuld sped slowly, never should that be said that he had run away before his thralls. Hrut's followers said that they had odds to deal with. Hrut said he would never heed that; said they should fare all the worse the more they were in number. The men of Salmon-river-Dale now jumped off their horses, and got ready to fight. Hrut bade his men not trouble themselves about the odds, and goes for them at a rush. Hrut had a helmet on his head, a drawn sword in one hand and a shield in the other. He was of all men the most skilled at arms. Hrut was then so wild that few could keep up with him. Both sides fought briskly for a while; but the men of Salmon-river-Dale very soon found that in Hrut they had to deal with one for whom they were no match, for now he slew two men at every onslaught. After that the men of Salmon-river-Dale begged for peace. Hrut replied that they should surely have peace. All the house-carles of Hoskuld who were yet alive were wounded, and four were killed. Hrut then went home, being somewhat wounded himself; but his followers only slightly or not at all, for he had been the foremost in the fight. The place has since been called Fight-Dale where they fought. After that Hrut had the cattle killed. Now it must be told how Hoskuld got men together in a hurry when he heard of the robbery and rode home. Much at the same time as he arrived his house-carles came home too, and told how their journey had gone anything but smoothly. Hoskuld was wild with wrath at this, and said he meant to take at Hrut's hand no robbery or loss of lives again, and gathered to him men all that day. Then Jorunn, his wife, went and talked to him, and asked him what he had made his mind up to. He said, "It is but little I have made up my mind to, but I fain would that men should oftener talk of something else than the slaying of my house-carles". Jorunn answered, "You are after a fearful deed if you mean to kill such a man as your brother, seeing that some men will have it that it would not have been without cause if Hrut had seized these goods even before this; and now he has shown that, taking after the race he comes from, he means no longer to be an outcast, kept from what is his own. Now, surely he cannot have made up his mind to try his strength with you till he knew that he might hope for some backing-up from the more powerful among men; for, indeed, I am told that messages have been passing in quiet between Hrut and Thord Yeller. And to me, at least, such matters seem worthy of heed being paid to them. No doubt Thord will be glad to back up matters of this kind, seeing how clear are the bearings of the case. Moreover you know, Hoskuld, that since the quarrel between Thord Goddi and Vigdis, there has not been the same fond friendship between you and Thord Yeller as before, although by means of gifts you staved off the enmity of him and his kinsmen in the beginning. I also think, Hoskuld," she said, "that in that matter, much to the trial of their temper, they feel they have come off worst at the hands of yourself and your son, Olaf. Now this seems to me the wiser counsel: to make your brother an honourable offer, for there a hard grip from greedy wolf may be looked for. I am sure that Hrut will take that matter in good part, for I am told he is a wise man, and he will see that that would be an honour to both of you." Hoskuld quieted down greatly at Jorunn's speech, and thought this was likely to be true. Then men went between them who were friends of both sides, bearing words of peace from Hoskuld to Hrut. Hrut received them well, and said he would indeed make friends with Hoskuld, and added that he had long been ready for their coming to terms as behoved kinsmen, if but Hoskuld had been willing to grant him his right. Hrut also said he was ready to do honour to Hoskuld for what he on his side had misdone. So now these matters were shaped and settled between the brothers, who now take to living together in good brotherhood from this time forth. Hrut now looks after his homestead, and became mighty man of his ways. He did not mix himself up in general things, but in whatever matter he took a part he would have his own way. Hrut now moved his dwelling, and abode to old age at a place which now is called Hrutstead. He made a temple in his home-field, of which the remains are still to be seen. It is called Trolls' walk now, and there is the high road. Hrut married a woman named Unn, daughter of Mord Fiddle. Unn left him, and thence sprang the quarrels between the men of Salmon-river-Dale and the men of Fleetlithe. Hrut's second wife was named Thorbjorg. She was Armod's daughter. Hrut married a third wife, but her we do not name. Hrut had sixteen sons and ten daughters by these two wives. And men say that one summer Hrut rode to the Thing meeting, and fourteen of his sons were with him. Of this mention is made, because it was thought a sign of greatness and might. All his sons were right goodly men.

1. Of Ketill Flatnose and his Descendants, 9th Century A.D.2. Ketill and his Sons prepare to leave Norway 3. Ketill's Sons go to Iceland 4. Ketill goes to Scotland, A.D. 890 5. Unn goes to Iceland, A.D. 895 6. Unn Divides her Land 7. Of the Wedding of Olaf "Feilan," A.D. 920 8. The Birth of Hrut and Thorgerd's Second Widowhood, A.D. 923 9. Hoskuld's Marriage, A.D. 935 10. Of Viga Hrapp 11. About Thord Goddi and Thorbjorn Skrjup 12. Hoskuld Buys a Slave Woman 13. Hoskuld Returns to Iceland, A.D. 948 14. The Murder of Hall, Ingjald's Brother 15. Thorolf's Escape with Asgaut the Thrall 16. Thord becomes Olaf's Foster Father, A.D. 950 17. About Viga Hrapp's Ghost, A.D. 950 18. Of the Drowning of Thorstein Swart 19. Hrut Comes to Iceland 20. Melkorka's Marriage and Olaf the Peacock's Journey, A.D. 955 21. Olaf the Peacock goes to Ireland, A.D. 955 22. Olaf the Peacock comes Home to Iceland, A.D. 957 23. The Marriage of Olaf Peacock and Thorgerd, the Daughter of Egil, A.D.24. The Building of Herdholt, A. D. 960 25. About Hoskuld's Sons 26. The Death of Hoskuld, A.D. 985 27. The Funeral Feast for Hoskuld 28. The Birth of Kjartan, Olaf's Son, A.D. 978 29. Olaf's Second Journey to Norway, A.D. 975 30. About Giermund and Thured, A.D. 978 31. Thured's Second Marriage, A.D. 980 32. Of Osvif Helgeson 33. Of Gest Oddleifson and Gudrun's Dreams 34. Gudrun's First Marriage, A.D. 989 35. Gudrun's Second Marriage, A.D. 991 36. About Kotkell and Grima 37. About Hrut and Eldgrim, A.D. 995 38. The Death of Stigandi. Thorliek leaves Iceland 39. Of Kjartan's Friendship for Bolli 40. Kjartan and Bolli Voyage to Norway, A.D. 996 41. Bolli returns to Iceland, A.D. 999 42. Bolli makes love to Gudrun, A.D. 1000 43. Kjartan comes back to Iceland, A.D. 1001 44. Kjartan comes home, A.D. 1001 45. Kjartan marries Hrefna, A.D. 1002 46. Feast at Herdholt and the Loss of Kjartan's Sword, A.D. 1002 47. Kjartan goes to Laugar, and of the Bargain for Tongue, A.D. 1003 48. The Men of Laugar and Gudrun plan an Ambush for Kjartan, A.D. 1003 49. The Death of Kjartan 50. The End of Hrefna. The Peace Settled, A.D. 1003 51. Osvif's Sons are Banished 52. The Killing of Thorkell of Goat's Peak 53. Thorgerd's Egging, A.D. 1007 54. Halldor prepares to avenge Kjartan 55. The Death of Bolli 56. Bolli Bollison is born, A.D. 1008 57. About Thorgils Hallason, A.D. 1018 58. Thorkell and Grim, and their Voyage Abroad 59. Gudrun demands Revenge for Bolli, A.D. 1019 60. The Egging of Gudrun 61. Of Thorstein the Black and Lambi 62. Thorgils and his Followers leave Home 63. The Description of his Enemies brought to Helgi 64. The Death of Helgi, A.D. 1019 65. Of Gudrun's Deceit 66. Osvif and Gest die 67. The Death of Thorgils Hallason, A.D. 1020 68. Gudrun's Marriage with Thorkell Eyjolfson 69. The Quarrel about Gunnar at the Feast 70. Thorleik goes to Norway 71. The Peace between the Sons of Bolli and the Sons of Olaf, A.D. 1026 72. Bolli and Thorleik go abroad, A. D. 1029 73. Bolli's Voyage 74. Thorkell Eyjolfson goes to Norway 75. Thorkell and Thorstein and Halldor Olafson, A.D. 1026 76. The Drowning of Thorkell, A.D. 1026 77. The Return of Bolli, A.D. 1030 78. The Death of Snorri, and the End, A.D. 1031

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Chapter 19: Hrut Comes to Iceland

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