Christmas in Iceland - 15.12.1940, Page 7

evening, and rode at once into the town. He
had now a hood drawn over his helm, and was
fully armed.
Egil inquired where in the town Arinbjorn
was housed. It was told him. Thither he rode
to the house. When the came to the hall-door,
he dismounted from his horse, and found a
man to speak to. It was told him that Arin-
bjorn sat at meat.
Egil said: “I would fain, good fellow, you
should go into the hall and ask Arinbjorn
whether he will speak to Egil Skallagrims-
son”.
And when Arinbjorn met Egil, he greeted
him well, and asked why he was come there.
Egil in few words told him clearly of his
journey: “And now you shall see what counsel
I ought to take, if you will give me any help”.
“Have you”, said Arinbjorn, “before you
came to this house met any men in the town
“None”, said Egil.
who are likely to have known you?”
“Let men then take their weapons”, said
Arinbjorn.
They did so. But when all were armed, then
went they to the king’s house. And when they
came to the hall, then Arinbjorn knocked at
the door, asking them to open, and saying
who was there. The door-keepers at once
opened the door. The king was sitting at
table.
Arinbjorn then bade that they should go
in twelve in number, naming for this Egil
and ten others. “Now shall you, Egil, bring
the king your head and clasp his foot, but I
will be your spokesman”.
Then they went in. Arinbjorn went before
the king and saluted him. The king received
him, and asked what he would have.
Arinbjorn said: “I lead hither one who has
come a long way to seek thee in thy place,
and to be reconciled to thee. Great is this
honour to thee, my lord, when thine enemies
travel of their own free will from other lands,
and deem they cannot endure thy wrath
though thou be nowhere near. Now show
thyself princely to this man. Let ‘him
get of thee good terms, seeing that he hath
so magnified thine honour, as thou now
mayst see, by braving many seas and dang-
ers to come hither from his own home. No
compulsion drove him to this journey, nought
but goodwill to thee”.
Then the king looked round, and saw over
men’s heads where Egil stood. The king knew
him at once, and, darting a keen glance at
him, said: “How wert thou so bold, Egil, that
thou daredst to come before me? Thy last
parting from me was such that of life thou
couldst have from me no hope”.
Then went Egil up to the table, and clasped
the foot of the king. He then sang:
“With cross-winds far cruising
I came on my wave-horse,
Eric England’s warder
Eager soon to see.
Now wielder of wound-flash,
Wight dauntless in daring
That strong strand of Harold’s
Stout lineage I meet”.
King Eric said: “I need not to count the
crimes on thy hands, for they are so many
and great that each one might well warrant
that thou go not hence alive. Thou hast not-
hing else to expect but that here thou must
die. This thou mightest know before, that
thou wouldst get no terms from me”.
Gunnhilda said: “Why shall not Egil be
slain at once? Rememberest thou no more,
O king, what Egil hath done to thee—slain
thy friends and kin, ay, even thine own son
to boot, and cursed thyself? Where ever was
it known that a king was thus dealt with?”
Arinbjorn said: “If Egil have spoken evil
of the king, for that he can now atone in
words of praise that shall live for all time”.
Gunnhilda said: “We will hear none of his
praise. O king, bid Egil be led out and be-
headed. I will neither hear his words nor see
him”.
Then said Arinbjorn: “The king will not let
himself be egged on to all thy dastardly work.
He will not have Egil slain by night, for night-
slaying is murder”.
The king said: “So shall it be, Arinbjorn,
as thou demandest. Egil shall live this night.
Take thou him home with thee, and bring
him to me in the morning”.
Conutinued on page 27.
CHRISTMAS IN ICELAND
5