Saga network
Laxdæla saga
Laxdæla Saga, trans. Muriel A. C. Press (1899). 78 chapters, 198 characters resolved, 227 distinct social edges (341 typed edge records across seven relation types — see Methods for why those two counts differ).
Network
Drag nodes, scroll to zoom, click a character for its profile, click an edge to read the sentences that support it.
121 characters · 227 edges (341 typed edge records)
Network summary
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
Metrics are computed on the semantic layer only (kinship, marriage, friendship, conversation, conflict, killing, support) — the much denser sentence co-occurrence layer (197 nodes, 1247 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 20: Melkorka's Marriage and Olaf the Peacock's Journey, A.D. 955
Hoskuld now remained quietly at home, and began now to sink into old age, and his sons were now all grown up. Thorliek sets up household of his own at a place called Combness, and Hoskuld handed over to him his portion. After that he married a woman named Gjaflaug, daughter of Arnbjorn, son of Sleitu Bjorn, and Thordaug, the daughter of Thord of Headland. It was a noble match, Gjaflaug being a very beautiful and high-minded woman. Thorliek was not an easy man to get on with, but was most warlike. There was not much friendship between the kinsmen Hrut and Thorliek. Bard Hoskuld's son stayed at home with his father, looked after the household affairs no less than Hoskuld himself. The daughters of Hoskuld do not have much to do with this story, yet men are known who are descended from them. Olaf, Hoskuld's son, was now grown up, and was the handsomest of all men that people ever set eyes on. He arrayed himself always well, both as to clothes and weapons. Melkorka, Olaf's mother, lived at Melkorkastead, as has been told before. Hoskuld looked less after Melkorka's household ways than he used to do, saying that that matter concerned Olaf, her son. Olaf said he would give her such help as he had to offer her. Melkorka thought Hoskuld had done shamefully by her, and makes up her mind to do something to him at which he should not be over pleased. Thorbjorn Skrjup had chiefly had on hand the care of Melkorka's household affairs. He had made her an offer of marriage, after she had been an householder for but a little while, but Melkorka refused him flatly. There was a ship up by Board-Ere in Ramfirth, and Orn was the name of the captain. He was one of the bodyguard of King Harald, Gunnhild's son. Melkorka spoke to Olaf, her son, and said that she wished he should journey abroad to find his noble relations, "For I have told the truth that Myrkjartan is really my father, and he is king of the Irish and it would be easy for you betake you on board the ship that is now at Board-Ere." Olaf said, "I have spoken about it to my father, but he seemed to want to have but little to do with it; and as to the manner of my foster-father's money affairs, it so happens that his wealth is more in land or cattle than in stores of islandic market goods." Melkorka said, "I cannot bear your being called the son of a slave-woman any longer; and if it stands in the way of the journey, that you think you have not enough money, then I would rather go to the length even of marrying Thorbjorn, if then you should be more willing than before to betake yourself to the journey. For I think he will be willing to hand out to you as much wares as you think you may need, if I give my consent to his marrying me. Above all I look to this, that then Hoskuld will like two things mightily ill when he comes to hear of them, namely, that you have gone out of the land, and that I am married." Olaf bade his mother follow her own counsel. After that Olaf talked to Thorbjorn as to how he wished to borrow wares of him, and a great deal thereof. Thorbjorn answered, "I will do it on one condition, and that is that I shall marry Melkorka for them; it seems to me, you will be as welcome to my money as to that which you have in your keep." Olaf said that this should then be settled; whereupon they talked between them of such matters as seemed needful, but all these things they agreed should be kept quiet. Hoskuld wished Olaf to ride with him to the Thing. Olaf said he could not do that on account of household affairs, as he also wanted to fence off a grazing paddock for lambs by Salmon River. Hoskuld was very pleased that he should busy himself with the homestead. Then Hoskuld rode to the Thing; but at Lambstead a wedding feast was arrayed, and Olaf settled the agreement alone. Olaf took out of the undivided estate thirty hundred ells' worth of wares, and should pay no money for them. Bard, Hoskuld's son, was at the wedding, and was a party with them to all these doings. When the feast was ended Olaf rode off to the ship, and found Orn the captain, and took berth with him. Before Olaf and Melkorka parted she gave him a great gold finger-ring, and said, "This gift my father gave me for a teething gift, and I know he will recognise it when he sees it." She also put into his hands a knife and a belt, and bade him give them to her nurse: "I am sure she will not doubt these tokens." And still further Melkorka spake, "I have fitted you out from home as best I know how, and taught you to speak Irish, so that it will make no difference to you where you are brought to shore in Ireland." After that they parted. There arose forthwith a fair wind, when Olaf got on board, and they sailed straightway out to sea. [Footnote 1: One hundred = 120 X 30 = 3600 x 120 = 432,000 ells altogether.]
Table of contents
1. Of Ketill Flatnose and his Descendants, 9th Century A.D.2. Ketill and his Sons prepare to leave Norway3. Ketill's Sons go to Iceland4. Ketill goes to Scotland, A.D. 8905. Unn goes to Iceland, A.D. 8956. Unn Divides her Land7. Of the Wedding of Olaf "Feilan," A.D. 9208. The Birth of Hrut and Thorgerd's Second Widowhood, A.D. 9239. Hoskuld's Marriage, A.D. 93510. Of Viga Hrapp11. About Thord Goddi and Thorbjorn Skrjup12. Hoskuld Buys a Slave Woman13. Hoskuld Returns to Iceland, A.D. 94814. The Murder of Hall, Ingjald's Brother15. Thorolf's Escape with Asgaut the Thrall16. Thord becomes Olaf's Foster Father, A.D. 95017. About Viga Hrapp's Ghost, A.D. 95018. Of the Drowning of Thorstein Swart19. Hrut Comes to Iceland20. Melkorka's Marriage and Olaf the Peacock's Journey, A.D. 95521. Olaf the Peacock goes to Ireland, A.D. 95522. Olaf the Peacock comes Home to Iceland, A.D. 95723. The Marriage of Olaf Peacock and Thorgerd, the Daughter of Egil, A.D.24. The Building of Herdholt, A. D. 96025. About Hoskuld's Sons26. The Death of Hoskuld, A.D. 98527. The Funeral Feast for Hoskuld28. The Birth of Kjartan, Olaf's Son, A.D. 97829. Olaf's Second Journey to Norway, A.D. 97530. About Giermund and Thured, A.D. 97831. Thured's Second Marriage, A.D. 98032. Of Osvif Helgeson33. Of Gest Oddleifson and Gudrun's Dreams34. Gudrun's First Marriage, A.D. 98935. Gudrun's Second Marriage, A.D. 99136. About Kotkell and Grima37. About Hrut and Eldgrim, A.D. 99538. The Death of Stigandi. Thorliek leaves Iceland39. Of Kjartan's Friendship for Bolli40. Kjartan and Bolli Voyage to Norway, A.D. 99641. Bolli returns to Iceland, A.D. 99942. Bolli makes love to Gudrun, A.D. 100043. Kjartan comes back to Iceland, A.D. 100144. Kjartan comes home, A.D. 100145. Kjartan marries Hrefna, A.D. 100246. Feast at Herdholt and the Loss of Kjartan's Sword, A.D. 100247. Kjartan goes to Laugar, and of the Bargain for Tongue, A.D. 100348. The Men of Laugar and Gudrun plan an Ambush for Kjartan, A.D. 100349. The Death of Kjartan50. The End of Hrefna. The Peace Settled, A.D. 100351. Osvif's Sons are Banished52. The Killing of Thorkell of Goat's Peak53. Thorgerd's Egging, A.D. 100754. Halldor prepares to avenge Kjartan55. The Death of Bolli56. Bolli Bollison is born, A.D. 100857. About Thorgils Hallason, A.D. 101858. Thorkell and Grim, and their Voyage Abroad59. Gudrun demands Revenge for Bolli, A.D. 101960. The Egging of Gudrun61. Of Thorstein the Black and Lambi62. Thorgils and his Followers leave Home63. The Description of his Enemies brought to Helgi64. The Death of Helgi, A.D. 101965. Of Gudrun's Deceit66. Osvif and Gest die67. The Death of Thorgils Hallason, A.D. 102068. Gudrun's Marriage with Thorkell Eyjolfson69. The Quarrel about Gunnar at the Feast70. Thorleik goes to Norway71. The Peace between the Sons of Bolli and the Sons of Olaf, A.D. 102672. Bolli and Thorleik go abroad, A. D. 102973. Bolli's Voyage74. Thorkell Eyjolfson goes to Norway75. Thorkell and Thorstein and Halldor Olafson, A.D. 102676. The Drowning of Thorkell, A.D. 102677. The Return of Bolli, A.D. 103078. The Death of Snorri, and the End, A.D. 1031