Chapter II: Conclusion

We are entitled to ask in what work of any age are the characters so boldly, and yet so delicately, drawn [as in this Saga]? Where shall we match the goodness and manliness of Gunnar, struggling with the storms of fate, and driven on by the wickedness of Hallgerda into quarrel after quarrel, which were none of his own seeking, but led no less surely to his own end? Where shall we match Hallgerda herself--that noble frame, so fair and tall, and yet with so foul a heart, the abode of all great crimes, and also the lurking place of tale-bearing and thieving? Where shall we find parallels to Skarphedinn's hastiness and readiness, as axe aloft he leapt twelve ells across Markfleet, and glided on to smite Thrain his death-blow on the slippery ice? where for Bergthora's love and tenderness for her husband, she who was given young to Njal, and could not find it in her heart to part from him when the house blazed over their heads? where for Kari's dash and gallantry, the man who dealt his blows straightforward, even in the Earl's hall, and never thought twice about them? where for Njal himself, the man who never dipped his hands in blood, who could unravel all the knotty points of the law; who foresaw all that was coming, whether for good or ill, for friend or for foe; who knew what his own end would be, though quite powerless to avert it; and when it came, laid him down to his rest, and never uttered sound or groan, though the flames roared loud around him? Nor are the minor characters less carefully drawn, the scolding tongue of Thrain's first wife, the mischief-making Thiostolf with his pole-axe, which divorced Hallgerda's first husband, Hrut's swordsmanship, Asgrim's dignity, Gizur's good counsel, Snorri's common sense and shrewdness, Gudmund's grandeur, Thorgeir's thirst for fame, Kettle's kindliness, Ingialld's heartiness, and, though last not least, Bjorn's boastfulness, which his gudewife is ever ready to cry down--are all sketched with a few sharp strokes which leave their mark for once and for ever on the reader's mind. Strange! were it not that human nature is herself in every age, that such forbearance and forgiveness as is shown by Njal and Hauskuld and Hall, should have shot up out of that social soil, so stained and steeped with the blood-shedding of revenge. Revenge was the great duty of Icelandic life, yet Njal is always ready to make up a quarrel, though he acknowledges the duty, when he refuses in his last moments to outlive his children, whom he feels himself unable to revenge. The last words of Hauskuld, when he was foully assassinated through the tale-bearing of Mord, were, "God help me and forgive you"; nor did the beauty of a Christian spirit ever shine out more brightly than in Hall, who, when his son Ljot, the flower of his flock, fell full of youth, and strength, and promise, in chance-medley at the battle on the Thingfield, at once for the sake of peace gave up the father's and the freeman's dearest rights, those of compensation and revenge, and allowed his son to fall unatoned in order that peace might be made. This struggle between the principle of an old system now turned to evil, and that of a new state of things which was still fresh and good, between heathendom as it sinks into superstition, and Christianity before it has had time to become superstitious, stands strongly forth in the latter part of the Saga; but as yet the new faith can only assert its forbearance and forgiveness in principle. It has not had time, except in some rare instances, to bring them into play in daily life. Even in heathen times such a deed as that by which Njal met his death, to hem a man in within his house and then to burn it and him together, to choke a freeman, as Skarphedinn says, like a fox in his earth, was quite against the free and open nature of the race; and though instances of such foul deeds occur besides those two great cases of Blundkettle and Njal, still they were always looked upon as atrocious crimes and punished accordingly. No wonder, therefore, then that Flosi, after the Change of Faith, when he makes up his mind to fire Njal's house, declares the deed to be one for which they would have to answer heavily before God, "seeing that we are Christian men ourselves"....

One word and we must bring this introduction to an end; it is merely to point out how calmly and peacefully the Saga ends, with the perfect reconciliation of Kari and Flosi, those generous foes, who throughout the bitter struggle in which they were engaged always treated each other with respect. It is a comfort to find, after the whole fitful story has been worked out, after passing from page to page, every one of which reeks with gore, to find that after all there were even in that bloodthirsty Iceland of the tenth century such things as peaceful old age and happy firesides, and that men like Flosi and Kari, who had both shed so much blood, one in a good and the other in a wicked cause, should after all die, Flosi on a trading voyage, an Icelandic Ulysses, in an unseaworthy ship, good enough, as he said, for an old and death-doomed man, Kari at home, well stricken in years, blessed with a famous and numerous offspring, and a proud but loving wife.

ICELANDIC CHRONOLOGY.

A.D. 850. Birth of Harold fairhair.
860. Harold fairhair comes to the throne.
870. Harold fairhair sole King in Norway.
871. Ingolf sets out for Iceland.
872. Battle of Hafrsfirth (Hafrsfjöðr).
874. Ingolf and Leif go to settle in Iceland.
877. Kettle hæng goes to Iceland.
880-884. Harold fairhair roots out the Vikings in the west.
888. Fall of Thorstein the red in Scotland.
890-900. Rush of settlers from the British Isles to Iceland.
892. Aud the deeply wealthy comes to Iceland.
900-920. The third period of the Landnámstide.
920. Harold fairhair shares the kingdom with his sons.
923. Hrut Hauskuld's brother born.
929. Althing established.
930. Hrafn Kettle hæng's son Speaker of the Law.
930-935. Njal born.
930. The Fleetlithe feud begins.
933. Death of Harold fairhair.
940. End of the Fleetlithe feud; Fiddle Mord a man of rank;
Hamond Gunnar's son marries Mord's sister Rannveiga.
941. Fall of King Eric Bloodaxe.
c. 945. Gunnar of Lithend born.
955-960. Njal's sons born.
959. Glum marries Hallgerda.
960. Fall of King Hacon; Athelstane's foster-child, Harold
Grayfell, King in Norway.
963. Hrut goes abroad.
965. Hrut returns to Iceland and marries Unna Mord's daughter.
968. Unna parts from Hrut.
969. Fiddle Mord and Hrut strive at the Althing; Fall of King
Harold Grayfell; Earl Hacon rules in Norway.
970-971. Fiddle Mord's death; Gunnar and Hrut strive at the Althing.
972. Gunnar of Lithend goes abroad.
974. Gunnar returns to Iceland.
974. Gunnar's marriage with Hallgerda.

975. The slaying of Swart.

976. The slaying of Kol.

977. The slaying of Atli.

978. The slaying of Brynjolf the unruly and Thord Freedmanson.

979. The slaying of Sigmund the white.

983. Hallgerda steals from Otkell at Kirkby.

984. The suit for the theft settled at the Althing.

985. Otkell rides over Gunnar in the spring; fight at Rangriver
just before the Althing; at the Althing Geir the priest
and Gunnar strive; in the autumn Hauskuld Dale-Kolli's
son, Gunnar's father-in-law, dies; birth of Hauskuld
Thrain's son.

986. The fight at Knafahills, and death of Hjort Gunnar's brother.

987. The suit for those slain at Knafahills settled at the Althing.

988. Gunnar goes west to visit Olaf the peacock.

989. Slaying of Thorgeir Otkell's son before, and banishment of
Gunnar at, the Althing; Njal's sons, Helgi and Grim,
and Thrain Sigfus' son, go abroad.

990. Gunnar slain at Lithend.

992. Thrain returns to Iceland with Hrapp; Njal's sons ill-treated
by Earl Hacon for his sake.

994. Njal's sons return to Iceland, bringing Kari with them.

995. Death of Earl Hacon; Olaf Tryggvi's son King of Norway.

996. Skarphedinn slays Thrain.

997. Thangbrand sent by King Olaf to preach Christianity in
Iceland.

998. Slaying of Arnor of Forswaterwood by Flosi's brothers at
Skaptarfells Thing; Thangbrand's missionary journey;
Gizur and Hjallti go abroad.

999. Hjallti Skeggi's son found guilty of blasphemy against the
Gods at the Althing; Thangbrand returns to Norway.

1000. Gizur and Hjallti return to Iceland; the Change of Faith
and Christianity brought into the law at the Althing on
St. John's day, 24th June; fall of King Olaf Tryggvi's
son at Svoldr, 9th September.

1001. Thorgeir the priest of Lightwater gives up the Speakership
of the Law.

1002. Grim of Mossfell Speaker of the Law.

1003. Grim lays down the Speakership.

1003 or 1004. Skapti Thorod's son Speaker of the Law; the Fifth Court
established; Hauskuld Thrain's son marries Hildigunna
Flosi's niece and has one of the new priesthoods at
Whiteness.

1006. Duels abolished in legal matters; slaying of Hauskuld
Njal's son by Lyting and his brothers.

1009. Amund the blind slays Lyting; Valgard the guileful comes
back to Iceland; his evil counsel to Mord; Mord begins
to backbite and slander Hauskuld and Njal's sons to one
another.

1111. Hauskald the Whiteness priest slain early in the spring;
suit for his manslaughter at the Althing; Njal's Burning
the autumn after.

1112. The suit for the Burning and battle at the Althing; Flosi
and the Burners banished; Kari and Thorgeir Craggeir
carry on the feud.

1113. Flosi goes abroad with the Burners, and Kari follows them;
Flosi and Kari in Orkney.

1114. Brian's battle on Good Friday; Flosi goes to Rome.

1115. Flosi returns from Rome to Norway, and stays with Earl
Eric, Earl Hacon's son.

1116. Flosi returns to Iceland; Kari goes to Rome and returns to
Caithness; his wife Helga dies out in Iceland.

1117. Kari returns to Iceland, id reconciled with Flosi,
and marries Hildigunna Hauskuld's widow.

CONTENTS.

Introduction

The Northmen in Iceland--Superstitions of the Race--Social
Principles--Daily Life in Njal's Time--Conclusion.

Icelandic Chronology

CHAPTER

I. Of Fiddle Mord 1

II. Hrut Woos Unna 2

III. Hrut and Gunnhillda, Kings' Mother 4

IV. Of Hrut's Cruise 7

V. Atli Arnvid Son's Slaying 8

VI. Hrut Sails out to Iceland 10

VII. Unna separates from Hrut 13

VIII. Mord claims his Goods from Hrut 15

IX. Thorwald gets Hallgerda to Wife 17

X. Hallgerda's Wedding 19

XI. Thorwald's Slaying 20

XII. Thiostolf's Flight 22

XIII. Glum's Wooing 25

XIV. Glum's Wedding 28

XV. Thiostolf goes to Glum's House 29

XVI. Glum's Sheep Hunt 30

XVII. Glum's Slaying 31

XVIII. Fiddle Mord's Death 34

XIX. Gunnar comes into the Story 34

XX. Of Njal and His Children 35

XXI. Unna goes to See Gunnar 35

XXII. Njal's Advice 37

XXIII. Huckster Hedinn 39

XXIV. Gunnar and Hrut Strive at the Thing 42

XXV. Unna's Second Wedding 44

XXVI. Of Asgrim and his Children 45

XXVII. Helgi Njal's Son's Wooing 45

XXVIII. Hallvard comes out to Iceland 46

XXIX. Gunnar goes Abroad 47

XXX. Gunnar goes a-sea-roving 48

XXXI. Gunnar goes to King Harold Gorm's Son and Earl Hacon 52

XXXII. Gunnar comes out to Iceland 53

XXXIII. Gunnar's Wooing 54

XXXIV. Of Thrain Sigfus' Son 57

XXXV. The Visit to Bergthorsknoll 59

XXXVI. Kol Slew Swart 60

XXXVII. The Slaying of Kol, whom Atli Slew 63

XXXVIII. The Killing of Atli the Thrall 65

XXXIX. The Slaying of Brynjolf the Unruly 69

XL. Gunnar and Njal make Peace about Brynjolf's Slaying 70

XLI. Sigmund comes out to Iceland 71

XLII. The Slaying of Thord Freedmanson 73

XLIII. Njal and Gunnar make Peace for the Slaying of Thord 74

XLIV. Sigmund Mocks Njal and his Sons 76

XLV. The Slaying of Sigmund and Skiolld 79

XLVI. Of Gizur The White and Geir the Priest 82

XLVII. Of Otkell in Kirkby 83

XLVIII. How Hallgerda makes Malcolm Steal from Kirkby 85

XLIX. Of Skamkell's Evil Counsel 86

L. Of Skamkell's Lying 90

LI. Of Gunnar 92

LII. Of Runolf, the Son of Wolf Aurpriest 94

LIII. How Otkell Rode over Gunnar 95

LIV. The Fight at Rangriver 97

LV. Njal's Advice to Gunnar 99

LVI. Gunnar and Geir the Priest Strive at the Thing 101

LVII. Of Starkad and his Sons 104

LVIII. How Gunnar's Horse Fought 106

LIX. Of Asgrim and Wolf Uggis' Son 108

LX. An Attack against Gunnar agreed on 109

LXI. Gunnar's Dream 111

LXII. The Slaying of Hjort and Fourteen Men 112

LXIII. Njals Counsel to Gunnar 115

LXIV. Of Valgard and Mord 116

LXV. Of Fines and Atonements 118

LXVI. Of Thorgeir Otkell's Son 120

LXVII. Of Thorgeir Starkad's Son 121

LXVIII. Of Njal and those Namesakes 122

LXIX. Olaf the Peacock's Gifts to Gunnar 124

LXX. Mord's Counsel 126

LXXI. The Slaying of Thorgeir Otkell's Son 127

LXXII. Of the Suits for Manslaughter at the Thing 129

LXXIII. Of the Atonement 130

LXXIV. Kolskegg goes Abroad 132

LXXV. The Riding to Lithend 135

LXXVI. Gunnar's Slaying 135

LXXVII. Gunnar Sings a Song Dead 139

LXXVIII. Gunnar of Lithend Avenged 141

LXXIX. Hogni takes an Atonement for Gunnar's Death 143

LXXX. Of Kolskegg: How he was Baptised 143

LXXXI. Of Thrain: How he Slew Kol 144

LXXXII. Njal's Sons Sail Abroad 147

LXXXIII. Of Kari Solmund's Son 148

LXXXIV. Of Earl Sigurd 150

LXXXV. The Battle with the Earls 151

LXXXVI. Hrapp's Voyage from Iceland 152

LXXXVII. Thrain took to Hrapp 156

LXXXVIII. Earl Hacon Fights with Njal's Sons 162

LXXXIX. Njal's Sons and Kari come out to Iceland 165

XC. The Quarrel of Njal's Sons with Thrain Sigfus' Son 166

XCI. Thrain Sigfus' Son's Slaying 170

XCII. Kettle takes Hauskuld as his Foster-Son 175

XCIII. Njal takes Hauskuld to Foster 176

XCIV. Of Flosi Thord's Son 177

XXCV. Of Hall of the Side 177

XCVI. Of the Change of Faith 178

XCVII. Of Thangbrand's Journeys 179

XCVIII. Of Thangbrand and Gudleif 180

XCIX. Of Gest Oddleif's Son 183

C. Of Gizur the White and Hjallti 185

CI. Of Thorgeir of Lightwater 186

CII. The Wedding of Hauskuld, the Priest of Whiteness 187

CIII. The Slaying of Hauskuld Njal's Son 191

CIV. The Slaying of Lyting's Brothers 195

CV. Of Amund the Blind 197

CVI. Of Valgard the Guileful 198

CVII. Of Mord and Njal's Sons 199

CVIII. Of The Slander of Mord Valgard's Son 200

CIX. Of Mord and Njal's Sons 203

CX. The Slaying of Hauskuld, the Priest Whiteness 203

CXI. Of Hildigunna and Mord Valgard's Son 205

CXII. The Pedigree of Gudmund the Powerful 206

CXIII. Of Snorri the Priest and his Stock 207

CXIV. Of Flosi Thord's Son 207

CXV. Of Flosi and Hildigunna 209

CXVI. Of Flosi and Mord and the Sons of Sigfus 211

CXVII. Njal and Skarphedinn Talk Together 213

CXVIII. Asgrim and Njal's Sons pray Men for Help 214

CXIX. Of Skarphedinn and Thorkel Foulmouth 219

CXX. Of the Pleading of the Suit 221

CXXI. Of the Award of Atonement between Flosi and Njal 223

CXXII. Of the Judges 225

CXXIII. An Attack planned on Njal and his Sons 228

CXXIV. Of Portents 232

CXXV. Flosi's Journey from Home 232

CXXVI. Of Portents at Bergthorsknoll 233

CXXVII. The Onslaught on Bergthorsknoll 235

CXXVIII. Njal's Burning 237

CXXIX. Skarphedinn's Death 241

CXXX. Of Kari Solmund's Son 245

CXXXI. Njal's and Bergthora's Bones Found 248

CXXXII. Flosi's Dream 251

CXXXIII. Of Flosi's Journey and his Asking for Help 252

CXXXIV. Of Thorhall and Kari 256

CXXXV. Of Flosi and the Burners 260

CXXXVI. Of Thorgeir Craggeir 262

CXXXVII. Of Eyjolf Bolverk's Son 262

CXXXVIII. Of Asgrim, and Gizur, and Kari 267

CXXXIX. Of Asgrim and Gudmund 270

CXL. Of the Declarations of the Suits 271

CXLI. Now Men go to the Courts 274

CXLII. Of Eyjolf Bolverk's Son 284

CXLIII. The Counsel of Thorhall Asgrim's Son 285

CXLIV. Battle at the Althing 290

CXLV. Of Kari and Thorgeir 299

CXLVI. The Award of Atonement with Thorgeir Craggeir 303

CXLVII. Kari comes to Bjorn's House in the Mark 305

CXLVIII. Of Flosi and the Burners 307

CXLIX. Of Kari and Bjorn 309

CL. More of Kari and Bjorn 312

CLI. Of Kari, and Bjorn, and Thorgeir 315

CLII. Flosi goes Abroad 317

CLIII. Kari goes Abroad 318

CLIV. Gunnar Lambi's Son's Slaying 320

CLV. Of Signs and Wonders 323

CLVI. Brian's Battle 324

CLVII. The Slaying of Kol Thorstein's Son 330

CLVIII. Of Flosi and Kari 332

THE STORY OF BURNT NJAL.