Gripla - 01.01.1993, Page 206

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GRIPLA
dote about him in his saga illustrates the fact that he is ‘illr viðrskiptis
ok vandlyndr,’96 an assessment which is amply justified by his sub-
sequent career. He is represented as violent and overbearing, his only
concern in the face of death being to obtain fame and avenge his hon-
or.‘J7 He pays scant attention to church observances; although he at-
tends mass on the feast of the apostle Thomas, he ignores the fast re-
quired before the much more important Þorláksmessa two days later.98
An expedition in alliance with Þorvarðr Þórarinsson is represented as
being in accordance with God’s wishes,99 but it is Þorvarðr, rather than
Þorgils, who invokes His aid and orders his men to sing the Pater Nos-
ter.100 It may be added that neither the expedition nor the alliance was
approved of by Abbot (subsequently Bishop) Brandr, who sends Þor-
gils the following message: ‘bið hann, at hann geri sem minnst rangt
jafnan saklausum mönnum.’ The abbot continues: ‘Þykkir mér nú all-
miklu skipta, hvat ek spyrða til hans, ok mjök mun ek vera áhyggju-
samr um ferð þessa, þar til er ek spyr, hvernig yðr tekst . . . Vilda ek
nú, at guð væri yðr fyrir vápn ok vörð ok hyljanarmaðr Tómas erki-
biskup. En treystið lítt á drengskap Þorvarðs, því at mér segir eigi
mjök hugr um, hversu til enda ganga skipti þeira Þorgils ok Þorvarðs,
ok ætla ek Þorvarðr valdi afbrigðum.’101 He is clearly as much con-
cerned about the state of Þorgils’ soul as he is about Þorvarðr’s treach-
ery, and his misgivings on both accounts are soon seen to be justified.
Þorvarðr tries to get out of giving Þorgils the aid he had promised, and
a confrontation is prevented only by the arrival of the news that both
of them have been excommunicated by Bishop Heinrekr Kársson of
Hólar.
96 Stu II105 / K II 137.
97 Stu II132 / K II 162.
98
Stu II138 / K II166. While the reference to Tómasmessa may have been included
for chronological purposes, it is conceivable that mention of this particular feast results
from confusion between the apostle and Thomas of Canterbury, who is later described
as Þorgils’ favorite saint. The fact that the bishop of Hólar acquiesces in Þorgils' fast-
breaking need not indicate approval on the part of the author - Bishop Heinrekr him-
self comes in for criticism later in the saga.
99
There is a general wish that God will overthrow Hrafn and Eyjólfr (Stu II p. 181 /
K II 260), and an evil spirit is seen before their forces (Stu II 188 / K II 267). The fact
that the weaker side wins (Stu II 191 / K II 271) is also significant.
100 Stu II183 / K II 262.
101 Stu II 177 / K II 256.