FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   >>  
g Olaf Kvaran and Queen Kormlada, ruled over Ireland; and he had then borne sway but a little while. Gunnlaug went before the king, and greeted him well and worthily. The king received him as was meet. Then Gunnlaug said, "I have made a song on thee, and I would fain have silence therefor." The king answered, "No men have before now come forward with songs for me, and surely will I hearken to thine." Then Gunnlaug brought the song, whereof this is the burden,-- "Swaru's steed Doth Sigtrygg feed." And this is therein also:-- "Praise-worth I can Well measure in man, And kings, one by one-- Lo here, Kvararis son! Gruageth the king Gift of gold ring? I, singer, know His wont to bestow. Let the high king say, Heard he or this day, Song drapu-measure Dearer a treasure?" The king thanked him for the song, and called his treasurer to him, and said, "How shall the song be rewarded?" "What hast thou will to give, lord?" says he. "How will it be rewarded if I give him two ships for it?" said the king. Then said the treasurer, "This is too much, lord; other kings give in regard of songs good keepsakes, fair swords, or golden rings." So the king gave him his own raiment of new scarlet, a gold-embroidered kirtle, and a cloak lined with choice furs, and a gold ring which weighed a mark. Gunnlaug thanked him well. He dwelt a short time here, and then went thence to the Orkneys. Then was lord in Orkney, Earl Sigurd, the son of Hlodver; he was friendly to Icelanders. Now Gunnlaug greeted the earl well, and said he had a song to bring him. The earl said he would listen thereto, since he was of such great kin in Iceland. Then Gunnlaug brought the song; it was a shorter lay, and well done. The earl gave him for lay-reward a broad axe, all inlaid with silver, and bade him abide with him. Gunnlaug thanked him both for his gift and his offer, but said he was bound east for Sweden; and thereafter he went on board ship with chapmen who sailed to Norway. In the autumn they came east to King's Cliff, Thorkel, his kinsman, being with him all the time. From King's Cliff they got a guide up to West Gothland, and came upon a cheaping-stead, called Skarir: there ruled an earl called Sigurd, a man stricken in years. Gunnlaug went before him, and told him he had made a song on hi
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   >>  



Top keywords:

Gunnlaug

 

thanked

 

called

 

brought

 
Sigurd
 

treasurer

 

rewarded

 

greeted

 

measure

 

Iceland


thereto

 

listen

 

choice

 
kirtle
 
scarlet
 
embroidered
 

weighed

 

Orkney

 

shorter

 

Hlodver


friendly

 

Orkneys

 

Icelanders

 
Gothland
 

Thorkel

 

kinsman

 
cheaping
 
stricken
 

Skarir

 
autumn

raiment
 

silver

 
inlaid
 

reward

 
sailed
 

Norway

 

chapmen

 
Sweden
 

Sigtrygg

 

received


burden

 
Praise
 

Kvararis

 

Gruageth

 
whereof
 

therefor

 

answered

 

silence

 
hearken
 

Kvaran