Lögberg-Heimskringla - 17.04.1992, Page 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla - 17.04.1992, Page 3
Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 17. apríl 1992 • 3 Þorkell Retold by Einar Kvaran In the year 1000 AD Icelanders gave one man the power to decide how they should resolve the conflict between the heathens and the Christians, which was threatening to erupt into civil war. This man was the law-speaker Þorgeir Þorkelsson, also known as the goði of Ljósavatn, the Lake of Lights. Although he was a heathen himself he chose Christianity, because “if we tear asun- der the law, we tear asunder the peace. ” Þorgeir’s ability to preserve thepeace in the country did not extend to his own family. He had four sons, and before long he found himself engaged in a life and death struggle, in which he was on one side and his sons on the other. At stake was the fate of an out- law who had been banished from Ice- land for three years. He had returned prematurely, with the blessing of a mighty earl in Norway, who had asked Þorgeir and Guðmundur the Powerful to protect him. Guðmimdur the Pow- erful was a chieftain from the nearby Eyjafjörður and the most influential leader in the north of Iceland. Þorgeir’s sons sided with the party, who had originally been injured by the outlaw in the action which lead to his banish- ment. In this encounter the brothers succeeded in killing the outlaw and driving off Guðmundur the Powerful and his men. A little later they also managed to make peace with their fa- ther. A token peace settlement with Guðmundur still left ruffled feathers on both sides. Þorkell Badmouth One of Þorgeir’s sons was Þorkell, known as Þorkell Badmouth. As a young man Þorkell had gone abroad, where he had eamed a reputation for himself. He had killed an evil doer in the forest of Jamtland in Sweden. He had waged war in the Baltic and had slain a man-monster there. He went still farther east where he slew a dragon. Upcoming Events Every Monday Toronto Every Saturday British Columbia Thurs., April 23 Winnipeg Sat., Apr. 25 Seattle Sat., April 25 Winnipeg Sat., April 25 Brandon May 1,2 & 3 Manitoba Sat., May 2 Arborg Sat., May 23 Calgary Sun., june 14 MarkerviUe Sun., July 26 Icelandic Classes — Starting March 2nd. 8 - 9:30 p.m. A three month beginners course at Greenwood School (at Greenwood Subway Stn.). $30. plus any materials required. Instmctors Brandur Olafsson, bom in Iceland, and Linda Theron, studied in Iceland. Call Merrill to register 398-5741. □ ö ö Icelandic Classes — 10 a.m. -12:30 p.m. (Eight classes $25) Teachers from Iceland: Sturla Kristjánsson & Bjöm Örvar. Newteachingmaterials, videoand audio tapes. Call Sturla or Inga at 224-4374. Iceland House □ □ ö Sumardagurinn fyrsti, 7:30 p.m. Program sponsored by the Icelandic Cdn. Frón. Program, refreshments & “SummerPresents” at the Scandinavian Cultural Ctre., 764 Erin St. $5., children free. ö ö □ “Sumardagurinn fyrsti” program, First Day of Summer Celebration, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Icelandic Club of Greater Seattle atthe Social Hall of Calvary Lutheran Church, 7002 23rd N.W., Seattle. Variety program and refreshments. ö O ö First Lutheran Church Spring Tea, 580 Victor St. — 2 - 4 p.m. Sale of home-baking, lifrapylsa, handicrafts, books, a white elephant sale. Everyone is welcome. ö ö ö Þorrablót, Fálkinn Icelandic Club at Harry’s Ukrainian Kitchen Dinner & Dance $15. per person. Cocktails 6pm, dinner7 pm. ö ö O 73rd INL Annual Convention - Gull Harbour Lodge Resort - Hecla, Manitoba. For further info., please contact INL Office headquarters: 699 Carter Ave., Wpg., MB R3M 2C3, Telephone & Fax: (204) 284-5686. ö ö ö Vorblót (Þorrablót), in the Arborg Hall at 6 pm. $22. per person. For tickets please call Gudmn Johannson, 376-2759 ö ö ö Garage Sale, Bake Sale, Bottle Drive - Scandinavian Centre Parking Lot, 9am - 4pm. We urge everyone to get involved! ö ö ö Icelandic Independence Day, 1 - 4 pm. A family day focussing on Icelandic culture & history, featuring heritage crafts, musical entertainment, family games & historicHousetours. No Charge. Stephansson House ö ö ö Tombóla Festival, 1 - 5 pm. Annual family festival focussing on pioneer lifestyle, heritage crafts & Icelandic culture. Features top quality entertainment, vintage vehicles/equipment, livestock displays and Stephansson House tours. No Charge. These adventures were similar to those of many other young Icelanders far from home and far from reliable wit- nesses; in any case he returned to Ice- land and had the tale of his adventures carved over his bed and on a chair. Þorkell made it known that he was prepared to fight any man who chal- lenged him, and that he would never give the slightest way for anyone. He was known as Þorkell Badmouth be- cause he would not go easy on anyone, in word or in deed. The peace settlement between Þorkell and Guðmundur the Powerful was before long placed under a great strain. Guðmundur and his wife Þórlaug attended a wedding. In the course of the celebrations, Þórlaug and another woman vied for the highest social sta- tus. Finally, the other woman said: “I know you are superiour to me in all ways but one; my spouse is better than yours.” When pressed to explain, she said that according to Þorkell Þorgrímsson, Guðmundur was a cow- ard and stupid to boot. After Þórlaug reported this to Guðmundur, it was only a question of time before he sought vengeance. Þorkell betrayed For two years, Guðmundur was preoccupied with other matters, but then he turned his attention to Þorkell once more. He hired a small, unpre- possessing stranger called Shrimp to spy on Þorkell and to betray him. De- spite the fact that Þorkell knew that he was in danger, he maintained a small household. Guðmundurhadpreviously experienced Þorkell’s prowess as a fighter, and had no desire to tangle with him unless he had every advan- tage. The Shrimp managed to get permission to spend one stormy night at Þorkell’s farm. He left marker stones telling exactly how many men were at home, and during the night he unlatched the door to the house and then fled naked into the night. Guðmundur was waiting nearby with a superior force of twenty men and attacked Þorkell. After a brave de- fence during which he wounded a number of Guðmundur’s men, while Guðmundurhimselfheldback, Þorkell was slain. Guðmundur asked Þorkell’s widow whether she wanted their help to bury Þorkell. “By no means”, she replied, “Go now; I would rather be with him dead than with you alive.” Continued next week Icelandic-jZanadian 0ral ílarrafives Magnús Einarsson Icelandic-Canadian Oral Narratives by Magnús Einarsson Canadian Museum of Civilization Enjoy this selection of 175 Icelandic-Canadian oral narratives containing folktales, legends, memorates, humorous anecdotes, tall tales and simple accounts of daily life. Call (819) 776-8387 today to order your copy (ISBN-0-660-12921-3). Price: $29.95 (Additional 7% G.S.T. applicabJe to Canadian orders. Plus handling fees of 10% in Canada, 20% outside Canada. All orders must be prepaid. Price may change without notice. Make cheque or postal order payable to the Receiver General for Canada.) Mail Order Services Publishing Division Canadian Museum of Civilization 100 Laurier Street P.O. Box 3100, Station B Hull, Quebec J8X 4H2 Canadian Museum Musée canadien OF ClVILIZATION DES CIVILISATIONS

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