how one day
when people went to the law rock Olaf stood up and asked for a
hearing, and told them first of the death of his father, "and there
are now here many men, kinsmen and friends of his. It is the will of
my brothers that I ask you to a funeral feast in memory of Hoskuld our
father. All you chieftains, for most of the mightier men are such, as
were bound by alliances to him, I let it be known that no one of the
greater men shall go away giftless. And herewith I bid all the farmers
and any who will accept--rich or poor--to a half month's feast at
Hoskuldstead ten weeks before the winter." And when Olaf finished his
speech good cheer was made thereto, and his bidding was looked upon as
a right lordly one. And when Olaf came home to the booth he told his
brothers what he had settled to do. The brothers were not much
pleased, and thought that this was going in for far too much state.
After the Thing the brothers rode home and the summer now wears on.
[Sidenote: The funeral feast] Then the brothers got ready for the
feast, and Olaf put forward unstintedly his third part, and the feast
was furnished with the best of provisions. Great stores were laid in
for this feast, for it was expected many folk would come. And when the
time came it is said that most of the chief men came that were asked.
There were so many that most men say that there could not be far short
of nine hundred (1080). This is the most crowded burial feast that has
been in Iceland, second to that which the sons of Hialti gave at the
funeral of their father, at which time there were 1440 guests. But
this feast was of the bravest in every way, and the brothers got great
honour therefrom, Olaf being at the head of the affair throughout.
Olaf took even share with his brothers in the gifts; and gifts were
bestowed on all the chiefs. When most of the men had gone away Olaf
went to have a talk with Thorliek his brother, and said, "So it is,
kinsman, as you know, that no love has been lost between us; now I
would beg for a better understanding in our brotherhood. I know you
did not like when I took the heirlooms my father gave me on his dying
day. Now if you think yourself wronged in this, I will do as much for
gaining back your whole good-will as to give fostering to your son.
For it is said that ever he is the lesser man who fosters another's
child." Thorliek took this in good part, and said, as was true, that
this was honourably offered. And now Olaf took hom