Gripla - 01.01.1993, Page 211

SAINTS AND SINNERS
211
After this description of Hrafn’s virtues, the author describes the
disputes which ultimately led to his death. Throughout the escalating
conflict, his actions show him to be just, merciful, and possessed of al-
most super-human patience. He is thrice attacked by Þorvaldr Snorra-
son, who has become his mortal enemy (in spite of the fact that he had
once lived with Hrafn and been treated like a son or brother).129 On
the first two occasions, Hrafn is saved by the arrival of reinforcements
at the eleventh hour, causing Þorvaldr to seek a truce; Hrafn, who is
now in the stronger position, nonetheless refuses to attack. The first
time this happens the truce has been agreed to, and Hrafn refuses to
break it, even though his reputation suffers thereby; 'þat sýndist opt, at
Rafn var ógrimmr maðr, ok hann vildi heldr deyja fyrir trygðar sakir
en fyrir ótrygðar . . . hann vildi eigi vinna þat til fárra vetra virðíngar,
sem opt kunnu manna ráð verða, heldr vildi Rafn hafa svívirðíng af
mönnum í orðlagi fyrir guðs sakir, ok hætta svo lífi sínu til eilífrar mis-
kunnar almáttigs guðs. Fyrir þessa trygð Rafns ámæltu honum margir
menn, fyrir þat er hann hafði látið Þorvald undan ganga.’130 Þorvaldr’s
second attack takes place on the eve of St. Jacob’s mass, and Hrafn
chooses to honor the saint rather than take advantage of a situation
where victory is virtually guaranteed.131 On the feast day itself a settle-
ment is arranged, and Hrafn invites Þorvaldr and all his men to a ban-
quet. He also provides shoes for those of them who have none. Þor-
valdr, however, is clearly not interested in keeping the peace - he fails
to appear at any of the subsequent meetings which are arranged be-
tween them, and is considered to have broken the settlement.
The following winter is characterized by various portents of disaster,
which are described in detail. While such phenomena are hardly re-
stricted to Christian literature, it is worth mentioning one which has a
particular significance in a hagiographic context; the pillar of light
reaching from heaven to earth at the spot where Hrafn is eventually
slain. Such lights shine with great regularity over the bodies of saints,
and may also indicate places whose sanctity has yet to be established,
for example the site of the church at Skarð.132
129 Bp I 654 / Hs 23.
130 Bp I 665 / Hs 41-2.
131 Bp I 668 / Hs 47.
132 Stu I 9 / K I 5-6.
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