worse to quiet than before, and that he deemed all trouble worse
than it was; but that herein he found the greatest change, in that he
was become so fearsome a man in the dark, that he durst go nowhither
alone after nightfall, for then he seemed to see all kinds of horrors.
And that has fallen since into a proverb, that Glam lends eyes, or
gives Glamsight to those who see things nowise as they are.
But Grettir rode home to Biarg when he had done his errands, and sat
at home through the winter.
CHAP. XXXVI.
Of Thorbiorn Oxmain's autumn-feast, and the mocks of Thorbiorn
Tardy.
Thorbiorn Oxmain held a great autumn feast, and many men came thither
to him, and that was while Grettir fared north to Waterdale in the
autumn; Thorbiorn the Tardy was there at the feast, and many things
were spoken of there. There the Ramfirthers asked of those dealings of
Grettir on the neck the summer before.
Thorbiorn Oxmain told the story right fairly as towards Grettir, and
said that Kormak would have got the worst of it, if none had come
there to part them.
Then spake Thorbiorn the Tardy, "Both these things are true," said he:
"I saw Grettir win no great honour, and I deem withal that fear shot
through his heart when we came thereto, and right blithe was he to
part, nor did I see him seek for vengeance when Atli's house-carle was
slain; therefore do I deem that there is no heart in him if he is not
holpen enow."
And thereat Thorbiorn went on gabbling at his most; but many put in a
word, and said that this was worthless fooling, and that Grettir would
not leave things thus, if he heard that talk.
Nought else befell worth telling of at the feast, and men went home;
but much ill-will there was betwixt them that winter, though neither
set on other; nor were there other tidings through the winter.
CHAP. XXXVII.
Olaf the Saint, King in Norway; the slaying of Thorbiorn Tardy;
Grettir goes to Norway.
Early the spring after came out a ship from Norway; and that was
before the Thing; these folk knew many things to tell, and first that
there was change of rulers in Norway, for Olaf Haraldson was come to
be king, and Earl Svein had fled the country in the spring after the
fight at Ness. Many noteworthy matters were told of King Olaf, and
this withal, that he received such men in the best of ways who were of
prowess in any deeds, and that he made such his men.
Thereat were many young men glad, a
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