Gripla - 01.01.1993, Page 188

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GRIPLA
‘The good fame a man has won for himself never dies,’ says Háva-
mál.3 It is clear from the extant literature of medieval Iceland that the
way in which a man met his death contributed to his posthumous repu-
tation, whether he was a legendary hero or a neighbor slain in a local
feud. The sagas of Sturlunga, no less than other genres, contain numer-
ous passages which bear witness to bravery in the face of death; we
frequently find comments such as ‘his courage was much praised,’ ‘his
defense was unparalleled,’ or ‘he departed this life with courage and
honour.’4 The characters themselves may express concern about the
way their last moments will be described; when dragged outside on a
cold night, Tumi Sighvatsson (the elder, t 1222) asks to be killed
quickly, lest it be thought that he is shaking with fear.5 After confess-
ing his sins, Þórðr Bjarnarson lies on his back so that he will face the
oncoming blade, and bids bystanders observe whether he flinches.6
The theme takes on a rather gruesome tone when we read that the
three men chosen to slay Gizurr Þorvaldsson ‘should each strike his
blow, and not hurry about it, and see how he reacted.’7
In the thirteenth century, however, a man facing death had more at
stake than his reputation. On leaving this world. he entered another,
and if his life had been spent in raiding and bloodshed, he might rea-
sonably be concerned about his destination. This was his last chance to
escape the fires of hell, and even hardened sinners who had previously
showed little interest in religion might give some thought to the wel-
fare of their souls. As Hrani Koðránsson remarks after hearing confes-
sion, ‘Vera má at yðr þykki eigi karlmannliga við orðit minnar handar.
En mik má mjök ugga, at eigi sé vís gistingin, sú er mér gegni.’8 When
he again takes up weapons to defend himself, it is with the priest’s per-
mission.
3 ‘orztírr deyr aldregi, hveim er sér góðan getr’ (stanza 76), cf. stanza 77 ‘ek veit
einn, at aldri deyr: dómr um dauðan hvern.’ Edda: die Lieder des Codex Regius, ed.
Gustav Neckel, revised by Hans Kuhn, 4th edition, Heidelberg, 1962, vol. I. p. 29.
4 For example with reference to Sveinn Jónsson (Stu I 253 / K I 288 / Bp 1 500 / Gs I
165), Oddr Þórarinsson (Stu I 515-16 / K II 238-9), or Kolbeinn grön (Stu I 499 / K II
213).
5 Stu I 288 / K I 353.
6 Stu II 40 / K II 42.
7 ‘skyldi sitt högg höggva hverr ok fara ekki ótt at ok vita, hvernig hann yrði við.' Stu
I 492-3 / K II 203.
8 Stu I 505 / K II 220-1.