GISLl'S EVIL DREAMS.

So now that summer glides by, and Gisli abides in his earthhouse, and is wary of himself, and does not mean to go away any more. For he thinks that the earths are stopped all round about him, and now the years of his dreaming are all spent It chanced one night that summer that Gisli suffei-ed much in his sleep. But when he wakes up Auda asks what he had dreamt. He says that worse dream-wife had come tq him again and said thus —

" Now will I utterly crush all that the better dream-wife hath said to thee ; and if I may have my way, none of those things that she hath spoken shall be of any good to thee."

Then Gisli chaunted :

" Spi)lve the Valkyr, Btom beholJing —

* Ne'er shall ye twain woo and kiss, Day by day your love unfolding,

All the i^ods forbid your bliss. \Vo<len, lord of worlds and aj^cs,

Me hath sent to speak his will, Far from where the battle rages,

Lo ! his bidding I fulfil.'

GISLl'S EVIL DREAMS. 101

•* Again I dreamed," says Gisli, " that yon wife came to me, and bound round my brow a bloody hood, and washed my head first in blood, and poured blood over me, so that I was all over gore." And he chaunted a song :

" She, methought, her face all flushing.

Bathed my locks in reddest blood. Flames of light* so rosy blushing,

Woden's balm* so bright and good Still I see her fingers glowing,

Bright with gems and blazing ringn, Steeped in blood so freely flowing,

Welling from the wounds of kings.

Again Gisli chaunted :

" Yes ! that lady, dark as niven,

Bound my brow with gory hooil ; All my hair was shorn and shaven —

Sad the plight in which I stood : Still her hands were gore-bedabbled,

Still her fingera dropped with blood ; Something in my ear she babbled,

Tlien I woke — to find thee good."

At last Gisli was so sore pressed with dreams that he grew quite afraid to be alone in the dark, and could not bear to be lelt by himself, for as soon as ever he shut his eyes the same wife appeared to him. One night it happened that Gisli struggled just a little in his sleep, and Auda asked what had happened.

" I dreamt^" says Gisli, " that men came on us, and Eyjolf

* Periphrasis for blood.

102 (iISLI THE OUTLAW.

was along with them and many others beside, and we met, and I knew that there was merry work between us. One of their band came first, grinning and gaping, and methought I cut him asunder in the middle ; and methought too he bore a wolf's head. Then many more fell on me, and methought I had my shield in my hand, and held my own a long while." Then Gisli chaunted :

" Methought that early on a morning

My foes \vithin my dwelling stood ; Alone I met them, cravens scorning,

Alone I carved the ravens' food. Fast and thick they fell around me —

Woe is me ! I was aware, Though chains of death not yet had bound me,

My blood bedewed thy bosom fair.

And again he chaunted :

*^ Well my trusty shield stood by me,

Bold my heart with peril played ; Not a man of them came nigh me.

Blithely sang my tuneful blade : Till at last my doom was spoken,

Ten to one beat down my shield ; Well my death was then ywroken,

Loud clashed swords on fated field.

And again he chaunted :

" Thick I spread the ravens* table. One I swept like wind away. Ere those bitter foes wore able Once to wound me in the frav :

(ÍISLI'S EVIL DREAMS. 103

Nay ! my sword with temper eager

Shore a leg from off a wight ; Off he limped, so wan and meagre,

Mine the pledge he lost in fight"

Now the autumn comes on and the dreams do not minish, but they rather go on waxing more and more. One night when Gisli struggled in his sleep Auda asked, as was her wont, what had happened. Gisli chaunted these verses :

" Methought, O wife, the hlood was flowing

Down my sides in crimson rill ; Tis hut the deht of suffering owing,

The toilsome task I must fulfil. Fairly won my wounds, no snarling,

Others* wives for me must weep ; — Such my visions, Auda darling.

When my eyelids close in sleep.

" Methouglit, wife, with weapons blooily

Both my close-set lips were scored ; Those twin-sisters fair and ruddy

Deeper blushed at kiss of sword. Still fond hope was ever smiling.

Blooming like the fairest flower ; * Thou shalt *scai)e ' — such words beguiling

Cheered me in that darksome hour.

" Methought my foenien, axes wielding, Both my arms at once lopi>ed oil' ; Wound on wound, no buckler shielding.

Woe on woe, and bitter scoff. Worse I dreamt — my forehead splitting,

Cleft in twain by force of hand. O'er my brow, like goblin flittinji, Gaped an»l j^iinned the grimly brand.

104 GISLI THE OUTLAW

" Methought that lady wise and witty.

Wearing crown of silver sheen ; O'er me bowed her head in pity,

Fast the pearls fell from her een. Mistress she of hoards unbroken,

Bound my wounds with gentle skill ; What, my love, doth this betoken ? —

Bodes it good or bodes it ill ?•*

GISLI, AUDA, AND GUDRIDA.

CHAPTEE XVIII.

GISLl'S SLAYING.

Now Gisli had stayed at home all that summer, and all had been quiet At length the very last night of summer came. Then we are told Gisli could not sleep, nor could any of these three, Gisli, Auda, or Gudrida, sleep. The weather was in that wise that it was very still, and much rime-frost had fallen. Then Gisli says he will up and away from his house to his lurkingplace south under the crags, and see if he can get rest there.

So they all three set out, and are clad in long loose kirtles, and the skirts of the kirtles swept the grass and left a track in the dew and rime. Gisli had a staff in his hand, and scored it with runes as he went, and the chips fell down. So they came to the lurking-place. He lays him down and tries to sleep, but the two women watched.

Then slumber steals over him, and he dreams that fowl came into the house called night-hawks : they are larger than ptarmigan, and they looked evil, and had been wallowing in gore and blood. Then Auda asked what he had dreamt.

** Still my dreams were not good," said Gisli, and chaunted a

lOG GISLI THE OUTLAW.

** Wife ! what time I rose and hasted.

Forth 1 wandered on the hills ; O'er these regions wild and wasted

Streams of song I poured in rills. Then I heard the night-hawk shrieking,

Then I heard his mournful strain ; Soon the dew of Woden * reeking

Shall this outlaw shed like rain."

And when this had happened they hear the voices of men, and there is Eyjolf come and fourteen men with him. They had already gone to the house, and see the trail in the dew, which pointed them out But when they were ware of those men they clomb the crags hard by, where there was good vantage-ground, and each of the women had in her hand a great club. Now Eyjolf and his men try to come up to them from below, and he called out to Gisli :

'* Thy best plan is not to fare farther away, and not to let thyself be hunted down like hare-hearted men, for thou art called a brave fellow. We have often met before, and we now wish this to be the last time."

*' Come on like men,'' answered Gisli, " for I am not going to fare farther away. Besides it is thy bounden duty to be the first to fall on me, for thou hast greater ground for quarrel with me than these others who come along with thee ?"

** I'm not going," says Eyjolf, •' to leave it in your hands to place my men, but I will draw them up as I choose."

* Pfiiphraísifí (or Mnoil.

GISLl'S SLAYING. 107

*• Well 1 " says Gisli, *' it was likeliest that such a hound as thou would not dare to cross swords with me."

Then Eyjolf said to Spy-Helgi :

•* 'Twould be great fame for thee now wert thou to be first in leading the way up the crags to Gisli. Such a deed of derringdo would long be borne in mind."

" I have often proved/' says Helgi, " that thou likest to have others before thee when there is any trial of courage ; but now since thou eggest nie on so hotly, well I will do my best, but mind thou backest me like a man, and keep as close to me as thou canst if tliou art not altogether a milksop."

Now Helgi busks him to the work where he saw the likeliest place, and holds in his hand a big axe. Gisli was armed thus : he had in his hand his axe, and he was girt with a sword, and his shield was at his side. He had on a gray cloak, and had bound it round with a rope.

Now Helgi takes a run and rushes up the crags at Gisli. He hurried to meet him, and brandished his sword, and smote him on the loins, and cut him in two at the waist ; and each half of the man fell down from the crags, each on its own side. Eyjolf got up in another place, and there Auda met him, and smites him on the arm with her club so that it lost aU strength, and down he topples back again. Then Gisli spoke and said :

"Long ago I knew I wtis well wedded, though I never knew I was so well wedded as T am. But now thou hast yielded me less help than tlum tln)Ughtest, though thy meaning

108 GISLI THE OUTLAW.

wa,s good, for had I got at him they would both have gone the same path."

Then two men go to hold Auda and Gudrida, and think they have quite enough to do. And now twelve men rush at once on Gisli, and try to get up the crags. But he defends himself both with stones and weapons, so that great glory followed his deeds. And now one of Eyjolf 's band runs up and calls out to Gisli :

" Lay down thy good arms that thou bearest, and give up at the same time Auda thy wife."

*' Come and take them then like a man," answers Gisli, "for neither the anns I bear nor the wife I love are fit for any one else."

That man thrusts at Gisli with a spear, but Gisli smote off the spear-head from the shaft with his axe, and the blow was so stout that the axe passed on to the rock, and one horn of the edge broke off. Then he throws away the axe and clutches his sword and fights with it, and shields himself with his shield. They attack him bravely, but he kept them off like a man, and now they are hard upon each other.

In that bout Gisli slew two men, and now four in all have fallen.

Still Eyjolf bade them fall on like men.

** We are getting the worst of it, but that would be worth little thought if we could only make a good end of our business."

Just then, when they were least aware, Gisli whisked about and leaps up on a crag that stands alone there, and is called Oneman's Crag. So he got away from the cliffs, and then he

GISLl'S SLAYING. 109

turned at bay and fought. This took them quite by surprise, and now they think that affairs are in a worse way than ever — four men dead and all the rest weary and wounded.

And now there is a break in the onslaught When they had taken breath Eyjolf eggs on his men warmly, and gives his word to get them many fair things, if they will only get at GislL It must be owned that Eyjolf had with him picked men both in valour and hardihood.

It was a man named Sweyn who first was ready to attack Gisli, but Gisli smites at him and cleaves him to the chine, and hurls him down from the crag. And now they think they can never tell when this man's man-slayings will stop. Then Gisli called out to Eyjolf :

** I wish to make those three hundreds in silver which thou hast taken as the price of my head as dear-bought as I can. And I rather think thou wouldst give other three hundreds in silver that we had never met, for thou wilt only take disgrace in return for your loss of life."

Now they take counsel, and no one is willing to turn back for his life's sake. So they fall on him from two sides, and two men are foremost in following Eyjolf whose names are Thorir and Tliord, kinsmen of Eyjolf. They were xary great swordsmen, and their onslaught was both hard and hot ; and now they gave him some woiuuls with spear-thrusts, but lie still fought on with great stoutness and bravery; and they got such knocks from him, both with stones and strokes, that there was not one of them without a wound who came nigh him, for (iisli was not a man

no OISLI THE OUTLAW.

to niiiss his mark. Now Eyjolf and his kinsmen press on hard, for they felt that their fame and honour lay on it Then they thrust at him with spears, so that his entrails fall out ; but he swept up the entrails with his shirt and bound the rope round the wound.

Then Gisli called out and said they had better wait a while : **Ye will soon have the end for which ye long." Then he chaunted :

** Wife 80 fair, so never failing,

So truly loved, so sorely cross'd. Thou wilt often miss me wailing,

Thou wilt weep thy hero lost. But my soul u^ Htout as ever ;

Swonls may bite, I feel no smart : Father ! better heirloom never

Owned thy son than hanly heart."

Tliat was Gisli's last song, and as soon as ever he had sung it he rushers down from the crag and smites Thord, Eyjolfs kinsman, on the head, and cleaves him down to the belt^ but Gisli f(»ll down on his body and breathed his last.

But they were all much wounded, Eyjolfs companions, (iisli there lost his life with so many great and sore wounds that it was a wonder to see. Tliey say that he never turned his heel, and none of them saw that his strokes were lighter, the last than the first. There now ends Gisli's life, and it has always been said he was the greatest champion — though he was not lucky in all things.

Now they drag him down to the Hal ground, and take away

GISLl'S SLAYING. Ill

his sword, and bury him there in the gravel, and so go down to the sea. There on the sea-shore the sixth man breathed his last. Eyjolf offered Auda to take her with him, but she would not. After that Eyjolf fares home to Otterdale, and there, that same night, the seventh man breathes his last. An eighth lies bedridden from wounds twelve months, and then dies. As for the rest, they were healed, and got nothing but shame for their pains.

It has been said, in short, by one and all that there never was a more famous defence made by one man in times of which the truth is known.

GISLI, AUDA, AND GUDRIDA.

114 GISLI THE OUTLAW.

out of the way, and Helgi took ship for Greenland. He got thither and throve, and was thought a brave fellow. Men were sent out to take his life, but it was not doomed that he should die so. Helgi was drowned out fishing, and that was thought great scathe. Auda and Gunnhillda go to Denmark to Heathby. There they changed their faith, and went south to Eome, and did not come back. Geirmund stayed in Norway and married, and was well to do. His sister Gudrida was given away to a man, and she was thought a wise woman, and many men have come from her. Ari the Soursop sailed to Iceland, and landed in Whitewater, and sold his ship, and bought him land at Hammer ; and there he dwelt some winters. Later on he lived on the Moors, and men have come from him too.

Here we end the Saga of Gisli the Sotjrsop.

6(ib grant us all Qudb tiasis toitiiottt tx(b. ðímen.

Althing, the, zxi.

Alvidra, 19.

Anmarkstead, 57, 59.

Ari Thorbjom'a son sent to Fressey, 8 ; slays Berg, Yestein's son, on his arrival in Norway, 113 ; returns to Whitewater in Iceland, buys land at Hammer, and later lives on the Moors, 114.

Ari, Thorkel Goldhelm's son, 1 ; marries Ingibjorga, 1 ; is slain by Bjorn the Black, 2.

Ari the Learned, xxxL

Amarfirth, 49, 66.

Amkelsbrink, 37.

Amor the oaf, 22.

Asgerda, daughter of Thorbjom Sealnip, becomes Thorkel Soursop's wife, 20 ; gossip with Auda in the bower, and its results, 29-34.

Athelstane the Atheling, xxxiii

Auda the Wealthy, xxvii.

Auda, Vestein's sister, becomes Gisli's wife, 20 ; gossip in the bower with Asgerda {866 xxii.), and its results, 29-34 ; her brother is slain, 43 ; the hangings, 50 ; leaves Hoi with her husband and Gndrida, 66 ; she is offered money by Eyjolf if she would betray Gisli, 71 ; he relates his dream to her in verse, 73 ; she is visited by the two lads who bad slain Thorkel, 91 ; Eyjolf, in pur-

suit of Gisli with a band of men, offers her three hundreds in silver to tell where he is, 96 ; how she disposes of the fee, 98 ; Eyjolf threatens her life, but is prevented from violence by Havard, 98 ; she rewards Havard, 99 ; Gisli tells her his evil dreams, 100-104 ; she and Gudrida accompany him to his lurking-place under the crags, 105 ; her bravery in the final encounter between Eyjolf and his band and Gisli, 107, 108 ; she refuses Eyjolfs offer to take her with him. 111 ; she goes to Norway with Vestein's sons and their mother Gunnhillda, and Gudrida, and Geirmund, 113 ; afterwards she and Gunnhillda go to Denmark, and having changed their faith, go south to Kome, whence they do not return, 114.

Audbjorga, sister to Thorgrim Bottleuose, 57 ; stoned to death by Bork, 59.

Aunund of Tweendale, 20, 26, 36, 39, 61.

Aunundarfirth, 20, 36.

Bard of Hella, 9 ; challenged to fight by Skeggi on the isle of Saxa, 13 ; his house attacked by Skt*ggi's sons, 1 .*) ; accompanies them to Tluirbjom's house, to which they si*t fire, 15-17 ; his housiburned by Gisli and his kindred, xix., 17.

Ðardastrand, 62, 87, 88.

** Bay, the," xix.

Beard-Bjalf sells half his ship to Gisli and Vestein, 27. See Gisli.

Bearsarks, the, xix.

Beggar's Booth, the, at Thorskafirth Thing, 87.

Berg (Shortshanks) quarrels with Thorstein, and smites him, 58; a snowslip falls on his farm, 59.

Berg, Vestein's son, slays Thorkel the Soursop, 87-92 ; is sent to Norway along with his brother and mother, Auda, Gudrida, and Geirmund ; is slain by Ari the Soursop, 118.

Bessastead, Bessi's farm, 36.

Bessi, 36.

Bjalf. See Beard-Bjalf.

Bjartraar, the cousin of Auda, Gisli's wife, and father of Hclgi, Sigurd, and Vestgeir, xxi., 35, 66.

Bjom the Black, a Bcarsark, xix., 1 ; challenges Ari to fight on the island, 2 ; slays Ari, 2 ; is slain by Gisli, 5.

Bjom, brother of Helgi the Lean, xxvii

Bjornshaven, xxvii.

Borgarfirth, 69, 113.

Bork the Stout, son of Thorstein Codbiter, and brother of Thorgrim the priest of Frey, xx., 20 ; his nephews, 21 ; is at his brother's feast at Sæbol, 49-51 ; his bargain with Thorgrim Bottlenose to work spells and charms as to harbouring his brother Thorgrim's slayer, 56 ; he takes Thordisa, Thorgrim's widow, to wife, xxiii., 56 ; he stones Audbjorga to death, 59 ; resolves to remove to Thorsne&s 59 ; stops short, and wishes to turn back and slay Gisli ; Tliordisa's counsel, 60 ; sets his Iiouse in order at Thorsness, 62 ; in the summoning days sets out for the west filths, and means to summon Gisli he-

fore the Thorsness Thing, xxi. ; his companions, 62 ; his pursuit of Gisli, 64 ; he fares back home little pleased with his journey, 65, 66 ; pays Eyjolf the Gray to hunt for Gisli, 68, 69 ; his further efforts to take him, 71 ; receiving information that Gisli is harboured by Ingialld at Hergilsisle, he sets sail with fifteen men, 78 ; his conversation with Bothilda, 80; his interview with Ingialld, 81 ; pursues Bothilda and Gisli, 82 ; at Hardjarness he hurls a spear at Gisli and wounds him, 83 ; Refs house, ** the Howe," searched by his men, but without success, 83-85 ; Bork goes home sore grieved with the journey and his ill-luck, 86 ; he fares to Thorskafirth Thing next spring, 87 ; his booth, 89 ; asks counsel of Gest as to the slayers of Thorkel, 90 ; his joy on receiving the tidings of Gisli's slaying, 112 ; Thordisa his wife, Gisli's sister, parts from him, 113 ; he is turned out of Helgafell by Snorro the Priest, and goes to dwell at Glasswaterwood, 113.

Bothilda, Ingialld*s woman -slave, 76 ; her conversation with Bork, 80.

Breakfastdale, 26.

Breidabolstad, xxxii.

Broadfirth, xx., xxvi., 76.

Brooksmouth, 36.

Cattegat, the, xviii.

" Combe, the," Thorkel the Soursop buys

land at a place so called, 62 ; is visited

there by (Sisli, 72. Christianity, notices of, xxvii, xxviii.,

27, 35. Chronology of Gisli's Saga, xxxvii.

Denmark, 27, 114.

Dream-wives, (íisli's, pereonificalions of

Heathenism and Christianity, xxviii., 69, 93, 100-104. ^

Drontheim, xvi.-xviiL, 26.

Duelling-Skeggi. See Skeggi.

Dyrafirth, 19, 25, 28, 37 ; Thing at, 21.

Easterlings, two, accompany Vestein to

Dyrafirth, 37. Edmund Ironside, xxxiii. Egil's Saga, xxviii. Einar and Sigurd, sons of Skeggi, 15 ;

their attack on Bard's house at HcUa,

and on Thorbjom's at Stock, 15-17 ;

slain by Gisli and his men, 18. Elfdisa, the wife of Kef, 83-86. Ere, the, 113. Eric Bloody-axe, king of Norway, xv.-

XYÍÍ.

Etlielred the Unready, xxxiii.

Eyjolf the Gray, of Otterdale, the son of Thord, 49, 53, 54 ; engaged by Bork to hunt for Gisli, but is unsuccessful, 68, 69 ; the pursuit renewed, 71 ; offers Auda a sum of money to betray Gisli, 71 ; he hears that Gisli is harboured at Hergilsisle by Ingialld, and sends Helgi thither, 77 ; he sets out for Geirthiofsfirth with thirteen men, Helgi and Havard with them, 96 ; Eyjolf s interview with Auda, offering her three hundreds in silver to tell where Gisli is, 96 ; howshe did with the fee, 98 ; Eyjolf put to shame, and returns to Otterdale illplea8ed with his journey, 98, 99 ; he subsiHjuently surjirises Gisli in his lurking- pluce, 106 ; eggs on Helgi to make a rush at him, 107 ; Eyjolf repulsiHl by Auda, 107 ; he incites his men to the attm-k, 108, 109 ; his kinsmen Thorir and Thord, 109 ; Thord slain by Gisli, 110; Gisli's slaying, 110; Eyjolf fares home to Otterdale, 111 ; goes to tell

Bork that Gisli is slain ; Thord isa gives him a great wound, 112 ; he goes back home ill-pleased with all he has done, 113. Eyrbyggja Saga, the, xxix.-xxxL

FiííMARK, in Norway, xvL

Fjardarfolk, 1.

Flat Isle, 78.

Flydroness, the residence of Skeggi's sons, 15, 17.

Force water, 84.

Fox, Skeggi's smith, bid to carve likenesses of Gisli and Bard, 14.

Fressey, 8.

Frey, the sun-god of the north, xxvi., 35, 4a

Games of ball on the ice, xxv., 47, 48, 57.

Geirmund, foster-child of Thorkel the Soursop, 34, 39 ; is sent by Thoi^m to Hoi for liangings to decorate the hall at Sælwl, 49, 50 ; goes to Norway with Auda and Gudrida, 113 ; and is married, 114.

Geirthiofsfirth, Gisli sets up his abode at, after leaving Hoi, 66.

Gemladaleheath, 37.

Gest, Oddleif s son, the wisest man in Iceland, 22 ; his evil surmisings about the Hawkdalemen, xxi., xxii., 22, 23 ; and its results, 23, 24; his mother Thorgertla heli^s Gisli, 72, 75 ; sails from his house at Redsand to go to Thowkafirth Tiling, and gives a pa-ssage to two lads at-Toss the firth as far as Hallsteinsness, 87 ; Bork a.sks counsel of him JUS to the suit ng:iinst Vestein's sons for Thorkel's sliiying, 90, 91 ; sends them to Norway at his own cost, along with their mother Gunnhilhla, and Auda, Gudrida, and Geirmund, 113.

Gisli, Thorbjorn's son, 8 ; soothes his father as to Kolbein's visits, and tries to prevent them, xix., 9, 10 ; slays Kolbcin, 12 ; maims Skeggi with his battle-axe, 14 ; his fame in consequence, 15 {see Thorbjorn) ; he and his kindred bum the house of Bard of Hclla, xix., 17 ; marries Auda, sister of Vestein, 20 ; he and his brother Thorkcl settle at Hoi, 21 ; the Hawkdalemen — Gisli, Thorgrim, Thorkel, and Vestein — upbraided by Amor the oaf, 22 ; to guard against Gest's spaedom {see In trod. pp. xxi., xxii.) Gisli proposes that these four should take the oath of foster-brothers, but Thorgrim objects, 23 ; Gisli and Vestein sail for Norway, 26 ; are wrecked on the coast of Hordaland, 26 ; tliey buy half of Beanl-Bjalfs ship, and sail for Denmark, 27 ; they are marked with the cross, xxviii., 27 ; Vestein sails for England, receiving a token — a silver coin smithied by Gisli, 28 ; Bjalf and Gisli sail for Norway ; Bjalf buying back the half of the ship, Gisli returns to Iceland, 28 ; his activity in his farm, 29 ; Auda and Asfceixlu's gossip, and its results {see xxii.), 29, 8cq.; his brother Thorkel desires a separation, which was eíTected, 33, 34 ; Gisli« feast and his guests, 35 ; the one thing wanting, 35 ; sends his house-carles for Vestein, who had arrived in Iceland, 36-38 ; Vestein's treasures presented, 40 ; the storm, 42 ; Vestein slain, 43 ; Gisli sends Gudrida to S;ebol with the news, 43 ; her report,

44 ; Gisli relates his dreams to Thorkel,

45 ; the songs he chauuted on this occasion, 46 ; he and Thorgrim try their strength in the sjx)rta, 47 ; Thorgrim thrown, 48 ; the harvest feast, 49 ; Thorgrim sends for the hangings Thor-

kel had refused, 50 ; Gisli's request to Geirmund, 50 ; prepares himself for a n!ght errand to Sæbol, 51, 52 ; slays Thorgrim, 53 ; interview thereafter with his brother Thorkel, 54, 55 ; Gisli and Thorstein matched against Bork and Thorkel in the game at ball, xxv., 57 ; song on Thoi^m's howe, by which Gisli betrays himself as his slayer, 58 ; goes to Nebstead and slays Thoi^grim Bottlenose, 59 ; Thordisa recites to Bork his verses on Thorgrim her first husband's howe, on which Bork resolves to slay him, 60 ; Thorkel goes to warn Gisli of this, 61 ; his verses thereupon, 61 ; parts with his brother Thorkel, 62 ; has a subsequent interview, 63 ; Gisli sells his laud, and drives off into the wood with his goods and chattels ; changes clothes with Thord the Hareheart, 63, 64 ; a spear hurled at Gisli, but hurled back, flying right through Thorodd, 65 ; Thorgrim the Easterling wounds Gisli in the calf; after binding his wounds he leaves Hoi by boat, with Auda and Gudrida, and lands at Husaness, 65 ; there he performs a feat of strength, 65 ; again taking boat, he sets up his abode at Geirthiofsiirth, 66; he sends his cousins to the Thing to offer atonement for him, but he is outlawed, xxiL, 66 ; the stave he chaun ted, 66, 67 ; his hidingplaces, 68 ; Eyjolf and Helgi hunt for him, 69 ; his dream, and the staves he chaunted regarding it, 69, 70 ; the two dream-wives, xxviii, 69, 93, 100-104 ; the pursuit renewed, 71 ; hard pressed, he rides to see his brother Thorkel, and asks his assistance, 72 ; thinks Thorkel behaves meanly towards him, 72 ; goes to Vadil, where he is harboured for the winter by Thorgerda, Gest's mother, 72, 73 ; fares

back to Oeirthiofsfirth for the summer and autamn, 73 ; returns to Thorgerda for another winter, 75 ; in another year he again applies to hÍB brother Thorkel, but is repulsed, and they part ill friends, 75, 76 ; he goe« to Ingialld in Hergilsisle for three winters {see xxxi.), visiting Oeirthiofsfirth every summer, 76; Helgi hears of him, and comes to Hergilsisle, where he is offered shelter by Ingialld, 77 ; Helgi's suspicions confirmed as to Gisli being there, 78 ; sets off to Thorsness to inform Bork, who immediately fares north, with fifteen men, to Hergilsisle, 78 ; Gisli's plan of escape — feigning himself Ingialld's idiot, 79, 80 ; Bork, seeing he has been outwitted, continues the pursuit, 82 ; Gisli is wounded, 83 ; he takes refuge with Ref at a farm called " the Howe," 83 ; goes to his wife at Geirthiofsfirth, 86 ; visit of the lads who slew Thorkel, 91 ; Gisli's excitement, and desire to avenge his death, 92 ; his dreams come back on him, 93 ; his verses on what he had dreamt, 93, 94 ; he is again hunted by Eyjolf and Havard and Sjiy-Helgi, but again unsuccessfully, 94-99 ; Gisli is sore pressed with evil dreams ; the verses he chaunted, 100-104 ; at the end of that summer leaves his house and goes to his lurking-place, Auda and Gudrida with him, 105 ; again he lias dreams not good, and chaunts a song, 105, 106 ; Eyjolf, and fourteen men with him, trace them by the trail in the dew, 106 ; the encounter, and Gisli's famous defence, 107-109 ; his fatal wound, and last song, 110. Gisli, Thorkel Goldhelm's son, 1 ; challenges Bjorn, 3 ; takes counsel of Ingibjorga, 3 ; bonx)ws Kol's sword ** Grays tecl," 4 ; slays the liearsark

and takes Ari*s house and widow, 6 ; refuses to return Kol his sword, 6 ; is slain by Eol, 7.

Glasswaterwood, 118.

** Gloves, the Pair of," two horses so called, 86.

Gotha-Elf, in Norway, xvi.

Granskuid, Kolbein's farm, 9.

" Graysteel,** Kol's famous sword, forged by the dwarves, 5 ; the dispute between Kol and Gisli (Thorkel's son) regarding it, ending in the death of both, 6, 7 ; the broken bits of it forged into a s|>ear by Thorgrim, the priest of Frey, 36, 51. See pp. xxii., xxxii. -xxxiv.

Greenland, 114.

Grettir, the son of Osmund, 69.

Gudrida, foster-child of Gisli, 34, 40 ; sent to Sœbol to tell of Vestein's slaying, 43 ; leaves Hoi with Gisli, 65 ; her anxiety about Eyjolfs proposal and offer to Auda, 97 ; accompanies Gisli to his lurking-place, 105 ; in the final encounter, 108 ; is sent to Norway, 113 ; and is married, 114.

Gunnhillda, wife of Eric Bloody-axe, xv.

Gunnhillda, Vestein's wife, goes to Norway, tlience to Denmark and Rome, 113, 114. See Auda,

Gunnlaug, xxxii.

Hacon the Good, Athelstane's foster-child,

sketch of, from Gisli's Saga, xv.-xviii., 9. Hacon the Bad, king of Norway, xv., 18. Hallbjom the Runagate, and his booth at

Thorskafirth Thing, 87-90. Hallstein, xxvi., xxvii., 87. Hallstoinsness, the farm where Hallstein

offered up his son, xxvL, 87. Hallvard and Ilavard, Gisli's house-carles,

36, 40. Hammer, 114. Harold Fairhair, xv.-xviii., 1.

Harold Grayfell, 26.

Havard, recently from Norway, and a kinsman of Gest, accompanies SpyHelgi to Geirthiofsfirth to search for Gisli, 94 ; demolishes the beacon Helgi built, 95 ; their flight, 96 ; again in pursuit, in Eyjolfsband, 96 ; interposes to prevent Eyjolf s slaying Auda, 98 ; he is rewarded by her, and fares south to Gest, 99.

Havard, one of Gisli's house-carles, 36, 40.

Hawkdale, 19.

Heathby, 114.

Helgafell, xxx., 113.

Hclgeland, xviii.

Helgi, Gisli's cousin, 66.

Helgi, nicknamed Spy-Helgi, hunts for Gisli, 69, 71 ; goes to Hergilsisle in pursuit ; is sheltered by Ingialld ; feigns illness for the sake of discovering whether Gisli is there, 77, 78 ; sets out to inform Bork that Gisli is harboured by Ingialld, 78 ; sent again round Geirthiofsfirth, accompanied by Havard, a kinsman of Gest the Wise, 94 ; Ilelgi piles up a beacon in the woods, which Havard demolishes, 95 ; flight of both to Otterdale, 96 ; in the final encounter with Gisli, Helgi is cut in two, 107.

Helgi, Ingialld's son, an idiot, 76.

Helgi the Lean, xxvii.

Helgi, Vestein's son, 87-92 ; goes to Norway, 113 ; takes ship for Greenland, and is drowned out fishing, 114.

Hella, Bard's farm, 9.

Hellshoe, the, xxiv., 44, 45, 55.

Hergil and Thoruna, Ingialld's father and mother, xxxi.

Hergilrtisle, 76, et seq. Se£ Gisli.

Hest, a hill in Iceland, 20, 86.

Hjanlaniess, 83.

Hladir, xvi.

Hlid, a farm in Thorskafirth, xxxi.

Hoi, Gisli and Thorkel settle at, 21 ; Thorkel departs, leaving the farm to Gisli, 84 ; Gisli leaves Hoi, 65.

Holt, 87.

Hordaland, in Norway, 1, 27.

"Howe, the," Refs farm, where Gisli takes refuge, 83.

Husaness, Gisli's feat of strength at, 65.

Iceland, state of things in, when Thorbjom the Soursop landed there, xx.

Ingialld, a kinsman of the Sonrsops, 34.

Ingialld and his household, 76 {see Introd. p. xxxi.); shelters Gisli, who builds a boat for him, and many other things, 77 {see Gisli) ; his interview with Bork, 81, 82. See Gudrida and Geirmund.

Ingibjoi^ga, I si's daughter, marries Ari ; her dower, 1 ; tells Gisli, Thorkel's son, of Kol's sword, 3 ; marries Gisli, 5 ; returns to her father, 8.

Jsgerda, Thorbjom's wife, 8.

Isi, Ingibjoi^'s father, 1.

Kkel, the, 8.

Kol, a captive, Ingibjorga's foster-father and thrall, 1 ; his sword ** Graysteel,** 4 ; lends it to Gisli, Thorkel's son, 6 ; is slain by him, 7. See Introd. xxi., xxii.

Kolbein of Granskeid, xix., 9 ; comes about Stock, and displeases Thorbjom, 9 ; is slain by Gisli, 12. See Skeggi.

Lambdale, 38.

Landnama, xxxi.

Loi't, the, 21, 24.

Luta, Vestein's kinswoman, warns Gisli, 38.

Marrying a deceased brother's wife,

xxiii., 56. Mossvale, 37.

Nebstead, 85, 59.

Njal, XXL

Norway, xv. el stq., 1, 17, 26, 113.

Oath of foster-brothers, xxii , 23.

Obimen of Africa, the, xxiii.

Oddleif 's son {set Gest), 22 ; his wife

Thorgerdfl, 72, 75. OfTa, King, xxxiv. Oneinan's Crag, 108. Orlygstad, battle of, xxxiii. Otterdale, 53, 96.

Quarrelsome Stein, nephew of Bork, 21 ; takes care of Thorgrim's farm at Sæbol in his absence in Norway, 26 ; joins Bork in pursuit of Gisli, 62, 64 ; again in pursuit, 83.

Quarter Things, xxL

Bannteioa, 39, 40.

Bedsand, 87.

Bef and his wife Elfdisa conceal Gisli when

pursued by Bork and his men, 83-86. Borne, 114.

Sæbol, Thorbjom and his sons settle at, 20 ; given to Thordisa as her dower on her marriage with Thorgrim, 21.

Sandwater-muuth, 25, 62.

Saxa, isle of, 13.

Sigrhadd of Viborg, 27, 35.

Sigurd, a trading partner of Vestein's, 27.

Sigurd, a cousin of Gisli's, ^^.

Sigurd, Skeggi's son, 15. ÁVc Einar.

Sigurd, the jarl of Hladir, xvi.

Ski'ggi, a relation of Kolbein, visits Stock,

13 ; challenges Bard to fight in the isle of Saxa, 13 ; his sword ** WaHlamo,"

14 ; (Jisli a(H't*pts his chalK'U<ii', and with his battle-axe cuts off Skeggi's leg, 14, 15 ; revenged by his sons, Einar and Sigurd, 15; his head hewn off by Gisli, 18.

Skeljawrick, 26.

Skutilisles, 76.

Skutilsfirth, 26.

Snerrir the Snarler, Thorgrim and Thor-

disa's posthumous son, xxix., 57. Snorro the priest, xxix., xxx., 113. Snorro Sturluson, xxxii. Springdale, 19.

Stein. See Quarrelsome Stein. Steingrimsfirth, 26. Stock, Thorbjorn's farm, 8, 13. Strand, 72, 99. Sturla Sighvatson, xxxiii. Sturlunga, the, xxxii. -xxxiv. Surnadale, in South Honlaland, 1, 8. Swart, Ingialld's thrall, 76. Sweyn, one of Eyjolf 's band in the hist

attack on Gisli, and slain by him, 109.

Talkxafjrth, 20.

Teigwood, 87.

Thingere, 38.

Things, xxi. : — of the three districts around Drontheim in Norway, xvi. ; at Thorsness, 20, 62, 66 ; at Valsere, 21 ; at Thorskafirth, 87.

Thorbjom (Soursop), Thorkel Goldhelm's son, xviii., 1 ; marries I sgerda from Fressey, 8 ; his childn*n, 8 ; dwells at Stock, 8 ; indignant at Kolbein, 9 ; at Gisli, 10, 11 ; his satisfaction at Kolbein's killing, 12 ; his house bunied by Skeggi's sons, xix., 15 ; esca|>e of himself and family, 16 ; though it was rejK>rtetl all were dead, 17 ; they set sail for Iceland, 17, 18; state of things there at that time, XX. ; buy land of Thorkel, Eric's son, in Ilawkdale, 19 ; In^gin t4» build tlii.'ir house at Sabol, 20 ; death of Thorbjom and his wife Isgenla, 20.

Thorbjom Sealnip, 20.

Thord the Hareheart, a thrall, 42, 43, 54, 63. 64.

DíDKX.

Thord, a kinniuui of Eyjolf, 109 ; is slain by Gisli, 110.

Thordisa, Thorbjorn's daughter, 8 ; wooed by Skeggi, 13 ; married to Thorgrim, son of Thorstein Codbiter, xx, 21 ; her husband shiin by her brother Gisli, 53 ; Bork marries her, 56 ; she bears a son to Thorgrim, who is first called Thorgrim, after his father, but subsequently Snerrir, and later Snorro, xxix., 67 ; relates to Bork the verses on Thorgrim's howe, by which Gisli had betrayed himself; counsel to her husband, 60 ; how she receives the news of her brother Glsli's death — gives Eyjolf a great wound, 112 ; she parts from her husband, and goes to dwell at Thordisastead, 113.

Tliordisa, daughter of Thorstein Codbiter, 20, 62.

Thordisa, wife of Thorbjom Sealnip, 20.

Thordisastead, 113.

Thorgeir the Gorcock, 58.

Thoi^gerda, the mother of Gest, 72, 75.

Thorgerda, Ingialld's wife, 76-78.

Thorgrim, the priest of Frey, and son of Thorstein Codbiter, xx., 20 ; marries Thordisa, daughter of Thorbjorn, xx., XXX., 21 ; settles at Sæbol, 21 ; the oath {see Gisli) objected to by him as reganled Vestein, 23 ; buys woo<l of the Easterliug captains, 25 ; slays them, 26 ; he and Thorkel sail for Norway in their ship, 26; his farm cared for by Quarrelsome Stein in his absence, 26; they meet the king, Harold Grayfell, at Drontheim, and become his thanes, 26 ; retuni to Dyrafirth, 28 ; joined by Thorkel in the farm, 34 ; they make a feast, 35; Thorgrim forges a 8]>ear out of the broken bits of the sword ** Graysteel," 35, 86 ; slays Vestein, 43, 45 ; tries his strength with Gisli

in the sports, and is thrown, 47, 48; makes a harvest feast, 49-51 ; slain by Gisli, 53; laid, in his howe, xxiv., 54, 55 ; his ale of heirship brewed and drunk, 56 ; no snow lodged on the south side of his howe, xxvi., 56, 58.

Thorgrim Bottlenose, xxii., xxiiL, 19, 35 ; the great storm at Hoi attributed to his sorcery, 45 ; Bork bargains with him to work spells and charms, that none should harbour Thoi^grim's slayer, 56, 81 : is stoned to death by Gisli, 59.

Thorgrim, an Easterliug, 62, 64, 65.

Thorhall of Thingere, his interview with Vestein, 38.

Thorhalla, wife of Thorkel the Faulty, 19.

Thorir, a kinsman of Eyjolf, 109, 110.

Thorir and Thorarinn, Easterliug captains, come to Iceland, 25 ; their dealings with Thoi^grim, and sb.ying of his son (?) Thorodd, 25 ; they are pursued by Thorgrim, and slain by him at Easterlingsfall, 25, 26.

Thorkel Goldhelm and his family, 1 ; his death, 8.

Thorkel (the Soursop), Thorbjorn's son, 8 ; is friendly to Kolbein, 11 ; vexed at his being slain, 12 ; leaves home for the isle of Saxa, and lives with Skeggi, whom he eggs on to avenge Kolbein and to woo his sister Thordisa, 18 ; returns home with Gisli, 15 (see Thorbjom) ; marries Asgerda, 20 ; he and Gisli settle at Hoi, 21 (see Gisli) ; they sail for Norway, their farm cared for by Aunund in their absence, 26 (see Thorgrim) ; return to Iceland, 28 ; Thorkel 's laziness, 29 ; goes towards the bower to listen to the gossip of Auda and Asgerda, xxii., 29 ; he in^ terrupts them, 30 ; its results, 31, 32 ; sc'iiarates from Gisli, and takes up his abode with Thorgrim, 34 ; Vestein rides

past their " town," 39 ; wrangling about the stranger, 39, 40 ; Thorkel refuses Vestein's gifts, 41 ; Gudrida comes to Sæbol to tell of Vestein's slaying, 43, 44 ; ThorkeFs anxiety as to how Auda bore her brother's death, 45 ; the harvest feast, and the hangings for the hall, 49-51 ; Thorgrim's slaying, 63 ; Thorkel's interview with Gisli thereafter, 54, 55; the game at ball, XXV., 57 ; resolves to remove with Bork to Thorsness, 59; goes to warn Gisli of Bork's designs upon him, 61 {sm, Bork) ; buys land at Bardastrand, at a place called ** the Combe," 62 ; subsequent interview with Gisli, 63 ; after Gisli is outlawed he visits Thorkel, asking assistance, but goes away very down-hearted, 72; a year after, they again meet, but part ill friends, 75, 76 ; Gisli warns him that ilMuck was following him too, xxxii., 76 ; Thorkel goes to Thorskafirth Thing, 87 ; is slain by the elder of two lads {sfe Gest), whom Bork supposes to have been Vestein's sons, 89, 90 ; Thorkel is laid in his howe, 91.

Thorkel the Wealthy, of Alvidra, 19, 35, 40 ; goes to Thorsness Tiling, 20, 22 ; informs Gisli that he is outlawed, but promises him shelter, 66-68.

Thorkel, Eric's son, sells land in Hawkdale to Thorbjom Soursop, 19 ; buys Gisli's land at Hoi, 63.

Thorkel the Faulty, 19, 57 ; his wives Audbjorga and Thorhalla, 19, 57 ; his son Thorstein, 20, 57.

Thorodd, liork's nephew, 21 ; joins Bork in pursuit of Gisli, 62, 64 ; is slain by Gisli, 65.

Thorodd {see In trod., p. xxxi.) sent by his father (?) Thorgrim to bring home

wood from the Easterlings, disputes, and is slain by them, 25.

Thorolf Mostrarskegg, xx., xxvii., 20.

Thorskafirth Thing, 87.

Thorsness, xx., 20, 59, 62, 66.

Thorstein Codbiter and his family, 20, 62 ; asks Thorkel of Alvidra and the Soursops to come to his house, xxvii., 20.

Thorstein, Thorkel the Faulty's son, 20, 57 ; he and Gisli are matched in the game at ball against Bork and Thorkel the Soursop, 57 ; quarrels with Berg, and is wounded by him, 58 ; is sheltered by Gisli, and sent to Borgarfirth, 59.

Thorwanl of Holt, and his house-carles, 37.

Tljurida the Wise, xxxi.

Tweendale, 20, 59.

Vadil, Gisli harboured at, by Thorgerda, 72, 75.

Vadsteinberg, the, 79, 81.

Valhalla, xxiv., xxvii,, 44.

Valsere Thing, xx., 21.

Vestein, 20 ; his sister Auda married by Gisli, 20 ; the oath between him and the others objected to by Thorgrim, 23, 24 ; he and (Jisli sail for Norway, and are wnniked, 27 ; he sails for England, 28 {.s<y (Jisli) ; his return to Iceland, 36 ; warned by Gisli, 36 ; inridenta on the way to Hoi, 37-39 ; his tn'a.sure«, 40 ; he is slain, 43 ; and laid in his howe, xxiv., XXV., 44; his ale of heirship brewed and drunk, 47 ; two la<l8, bis sons, visit the Thing at Thorskafirth, the elder of whom slays Thorkel, 89, 92. Sre Berg and Helgi.

Vest;;i*ir, a cousin of Gisli's, 66.

Vil>org, xxvii., xxviii., 27, 35.

W.iRFLAME, Skr^'i's swonl, 14. Whitewater, in liorgjirfirth, 113. Woden, xxiv., xxvii., 1(>6.

yV/«Av/ by R. Clark. Etltnhur^h.

Works by the Same Author.

Popular Tales from the Norse. Second Edition, greatly Enlarged, Price los, 6d., containing Thirteen New Tales, and an Appendix consisting of Ananzi Stories, as told by the Negroes in the West Indies.

Contents of Introduction,

I. The Origin of Popular Tales — Comparative Philology — the Aryan Race.

II. Diffusion of Popular Tales — Tell's Mastershot

and Gellert's Grave — Sanscrit Literature — the Pantcha Tantra, and Calila and Dinma, Somadeva's Stories — Modern African and Ananzi Stories — Origin of Human Race.

III. Norse Mythology — The Æsir and Frost Giants —

The Volsung Tale (The Elder Version of the Nibelungen Lied) — The Norseman's Gods and Faith — Christianity in the North —The Heathen Gods— The Wild Huntsman— The Church of Rome.

IV. NoRSE Popular Tales — The Gods on Earth —

Heathen Gods in Christian Garb — ^The Norseman's God — The God of Wish and Wishing Things — Frodi's Quern — The Devil and Hel — The Norseman's Hell — Dame Habonde and Herodias — Witchcraft and the Mediæval Witch — Transformation into Beasts— Were Wolves— Were Bears— The Beast Epic in the North— The Wolf, Horse, Bull, Dog— The Goat and Little Birds— Giants and Trolls— The Trolls, Finns, and Lapps— The Naked Sword.

V. Conclusion — Literature of Popular Tales — Characters

in Norse Tales - Norse Nature.

Works by the Same Author — Continued.

The Ananzi Stories.

Why the Jack Spaniard's Waist is

Small Ananzi and the Lion. Ananzi and Quanqua. The* Ear of Com and the Twelve

Men. The King and the Ant's Tree. The Little Child and the Pumpkin

Tree.

The Brother and his Sisters.

The Girl and the Fish.

The Lion, the Goat, and the

Baboon. Ananzi and Baboon. The Man and the Doukana

Tree Nancy Fairy, The Dancing Gang.

" The loves and feuds of the Powers of Nature, after they had been told, first of gods, then of heroes, appear in the tales of the people as the flirting and teasing of fairies and imps. Christianity had destroyed the old gods of the Teutonic tribes, and supplied new heroes in the saints and martyrs of the Church. The gods were dead, and the heroes, the sons of the gods, forgotten. But the stories told of them would not die, and in spite of the excommunications of the priests, they were welcomed wherever they appeared in their strange disguises. Kind-hearted grannies would tell the pretty stories of old, if it was only to keep their little folk quiet. They did not tell them of the gods ; for those gods were dead ; or, worse than that, had been changed into devils. They told them of nobody : ay, sometimes they would tell them of the very saints and martyrs, and the apostles themselves have had to wear some of the old ragp that belonged by right to Odin and other heathen gods. The oddest figure is that of the devil in his half-Christian and half-heathen garb. The Aryan nations had no Devil. Pluto, though of a sombre character, was a very respectable personage : and Loki, though a mischievous person, was not a fiend. The German goddess, Hell, too — like Proserpina — had once seen better days. Thus, when the Germans were indoctrinated with the idea of a real Devil, the Semitic Satan or Diabolus, they treated him in the most good-humoured manner. They ascribed to him all the mischievous tricks of their most mischievous gods. But while the old Northern story-tellers delighted in the success of cunning, the new generation felt in duty bound to represent the Devil in the end as always defeated. He was outwitted in all the tricks which had formerly proved successful, and thus quite a new character was produced — the poor or stupid Devil, who appears not unfrequently in the German and in Norwegian tales.

" All this Mr. Dasent has described very tersely and graphically in his Introduction, and we recommend the readers of his tales not to treat that Introduction as most introductions are treated." — Saturday Review^ January 15, 1859.

Works by the Same Author — Continued. 3

The Story of Burnt Njal ; or, Life in Iceland

at the end of the Tenth Century. From the Icelandic of the Njals Saga. In 2 vols. 8vo, with Maps and Plans, price 28s.

"Considered as a picture of manners, customs, and characters, the Njala has a merit equal in our eyes to that of the Homeric poems ÚíftvasqXw^s.^^— Edinburgh Review, October 1861.

" The majority of English readers would have been surprised to be told that in the literature of Iceland there was preserved a story of life and manners in the heroic age, which for simple force and truthfulness is, as far as we know, unequalled in European history and poetry, and is not unworthy of being compared, not indeed for its poetic richness and power, but for the insight which it gives into ancient society, with the Homeric poems." — Guardian f May i.

"A work, of which we gladly repeat the judgment of a distinguished American writer, that it is unsurpassed by any existing monument in the narrative department of any literature, ancient or modem." — Saturday Review.

" An historical romance of the tenth century, first narrated almost at the very time and by the \ ery people to whom it refers, nearly true as to essential facts, and quite true in its pictures of the customs and the temper of the old Norsemen, about whom it tells, is in these volumes edited with the soundest scholarship by Dr. Dasent There was need of a thorough study of the life and language of the early colonists of Iceland for the effective setting forth of this Njala, or saga of Hj^l'^-^Examiner, March 30.

" This ' Story of Burnt Njal ' is worthy of the translator of the Norse Tales : a work of interest to the antiquary and the lover of legendary lore — that is, to every one capable of appreciating those sources of history which

4 Works by the Same Author — Continued.

are at once the most poetic and the most illustrative of the character and growth of nations. The events of the story happened while the conflict of the two creeds of Christ and Odin was yet going on in the minds of the Northmen. We must pass the book over to the reader's attentive consideration, for there are few portions of it that are not pregnant with interest and instruction for a reflective mind." — Athenaum.

" Hurriedly and imperfectly as we have traced the course of this tale divine, it must be evident to all who have accompanied us in our progress that there is real Homeric stuff in it. The Saga has a double value, an æsthetic and an historic value. Through it we may learn how men and women in Iceland, near a thousand years ago, lived, loved, and died." — spectator^ Aþril 20.

' "Mr. Dasent has given us a thoroughly faithful and accurate translation of the ' Njala ; or, the story of Njal,' the longest and certainly the best of all the Icelandic Sagas. The style is that pure Saxon idiom with which the readers of his * Norse Popular Tales ' are familiar. To the translation are prefixed disquisitions on Iceland ; its religion, constitution, and public and private life ; and the appendix contains a very amusing essay on piracy and the Vikings, the biography of Gunnhillda, the wicked queen of Eric of the Bloody-axe, king of Norway, and afterwards warder of Northumberland, and a disquisition on the old Icelandic currency." — Times, April 8.

In preparation.

The Prose, or Younger Edda. Commonly

ascribed to Snorro Sturluson. Translated from the Old Norse. A New Edition, with an Introduction, in one volume crown 8vo.

EDINBURGH: EDMONSTON & DOUGLAS.