The Project Gutenberg eBook, Njal's Saga, by Unknown Icelanders

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Title: Njal's Saga

Author: Unknown Icelanders

Release Date: November 11, 2004

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NJAL'S SAGA***

E-text produced, edited, and prepared by Douglas B. Killings
(DeTroyes@AOL.COM), July 1995. Document scanning provided by
David Reid and John Servilio.

The Story of Burnt Njal
<Njal's Saga>

Originally written in Icelandic, sometime in the 13th Century
A.D. Author unknown.

This electronic edition was produced, edited, and prepared by
Douglas B. Killings (DeTroyes@AOL.COM), July 1995. Document
scanning provided by David Reid and John Servilio.

THE STORY OF BURNT NJAL

1. OF FIDDLE MORD

There was a man named Mord whose surname was Fiddle; he was the
son of Sigvat the Red, and he dwelt at the "Vale" in the
Rangrivervales. He was a mighty chief, and a great taker up of
suits, and so great a lawyer that no judgments were thought
lawful unless he had a hand in them. He had an only daughter,
named Unna. She was a fair, courteous, and gifted woman, and
that was thought the best match in all the Rangrivervales.

Now the story turns westward to the Broadfirth dales, where, at
Hauskuldstede, in Laxriverdale, dwelt a man named Hauskuld, who
was Dalakoll's son, and his mother's name was Thorgerda.(1) He
had a brother named Hrut, who dwelt at Hrutstede; he was of the
same mother as Hauskuld, but his father's name was Heriolf. Hrut
was handsome, tall and strong, well skilled in arms, and mild of
temper; he was one of the wisest of men -- stern towards his
foes, but a good counsellor on great matters. It happened once
that Hauskuld bade his friends to a feast, and his brother Hrut
was there, and sat next him. Hauskuld had a daughter named
Hallgerda, who was playing on the floor with some other girls.
She was fair of face and tall of growth, and her hair was as soft
as silk; it was so long, too, that it came down to her waist.
Hauskuld called out to her, "Come hither to me, daughter." So
she went up to him, and he took her by the chin, and kissed her;
and after that she we