Egil's Saga by Skalla-Grímsson # 69811

Egils Saga of Skalla-Grímsson. Sigurður Nordal published and wrote the foreword.


Skalla-Grím and Bera had very many children, and it was the first time that they all breathed; then they had a son, and he was sprinkled with water and named Thorolf. But when he was born, he was early great in stature and the most beautiful in appearance; it was the opinion of all men that he would be most like Thorolf Kveld-Ulfsson, as he was named. Thorolf was far ahead of his peers in strength; but when he grew up, he became an athlete in most of the things that were then common for men to do, those who were well-trained. Thorolf was a great man of joy; early he was so perfect in strength that he was considered to be very handy with other men; he soon became popular with the people; his father and mother loved him well.


Skalla-Grímur had two daughters; one was named Sæunn, and the other Þórunn; they were both promising in their growth.


They also had a son, Skalla-Grímur; he was sprinkled with water and given a name, and was called Egill. But when he grew up, it was soon seen in him that he would become very ugly and like his father, with black hair. But when he was three years old, he was big and strong, like other boys who were six or seven years old; he was soon eloquent and eloquent; but he was bad to deal with when he was in games with other youths.


That spring Yngvar went to Borg, and it was on business that he invited Skalla-Grím to come out to him there, and he named for that journey Bera, his daughter, and Thorolf, her son, and such other men as Skalla-Grím wanted to go with; Skalla-Grím promised his journey. Yngvar then went home and prepared the feast and had ale served.


But when the time came for Skalla-Grím to go to the invitation with Bera, Thorolf prepared to go with them and the household servants, so that there were fifteen of them together.


Egil spoke to his father about his desire to go; "I have such acquaintance there as Thorolf," he says.


"You must not go," says Skalla-Grím, "for you cannot bear to be in a crowd, where there is much drinking, where you are not considered a good businessman, that you are not drunk."


Then Skalla-Grím mounted his horse and rode away, but Egil was unhappy with his lot. He went out of the yard and met a horse that Skalla-Grím owned, got on its back and rode after Skalla-Grím; he found it difficult to navigate the marshes, because he knew no path, but he still saw Skalla-Grím's men riding very often, when there was no wood or forest. This is what is to be told of his journey: late in the evening he came to Álftanes, when men were sitting there drinking; he went into the room. But when Yngvar saw Egil, he received him joyfully and asked why he had come so late. Egil told what Skalla-Grím and his men had talked about. Yngvar made Egil sit beside him. They sat opposite Skalla-Grím and Thorolf.


There was a beer-party there, and men recited verses; then Egil recited a verse:



Come to the mountains

Yngvar, that's the request of the heathen,

He was eager to find,

from the oppressors gives to boys;

Will you not, O humble one,

three winters better for me,

the land of light

Linns, oh carpenters find.



Yngvar held up that verse and thanked Egil well for the verse; but the next day Yngvar brought Egil three falcons and a duck's egg as a reward for his poetry. But the next day, while drinking, Egil recited another verse about the reward of his talent:



Silently gave to the syllabaries

three yellow eagles Agli

shepherd's shepherd with a shepherd's staff

The benefits of the surf roots are immense,

and the bench-top volleyball

The table gave the fjords

teacher, he who knows,

A basket, Egil rejoices.



Egill thanked many people for his poetry.


There was no further news on their journey. Egil went home with Skallagrim.