er if he were to ask her in marriage. Gudrun replied at
once, "No need for you to bespeak such a thing, Bolli, for I cannot
marry any man whilst I know Kjartan to be still alive." Bolli
answered, "I think then you will have to abide husbandless for sundry
winters if you are to wait for Kjartan; he might have chosen to give
me some message concerning the matter if he set his heart at all
greatly on it." Sundry words they gave and took, each at variance with
the other. Then Bolli rode home.

CHAP. XLIII

Kjartan comes back to Iceland, A.D. 1001

A little after this Bolli talked to his uncle Olaf, and said, "It has
come to this, uncle, that I have it in mind to settle down and marry,
for I am now grown up to man's estate. In this matter I should like
to have the assistance of your words and your backing-up, for most of
the men hereabouts are such as will set much store by your words."
Olaf replied, "Such is the case with most women, I am minded to think,
that they would be fully well matched in you for a husband. And I take
it you have not broached this matter without first having made up your
mind as to where you mean to come down." [Sidenote: Bolli proposes to
Gudrun] Bolli said, "I shall not go beyond this countryside to woo
myself a wife whilst there is such an goodly match so near at hand. My
will is to woo Gudrun, Osvif's daughter, for she is now the most
renowned of women." Olaf answered, "Ah, that is just a matter with
which I will have nothing to do. To you it is in no way less well
known, Bolli, than to me, what talk there was of the love between
Kjartan and Gudrun; but if you have set your heart very much on this,
I will put no hindrance in the way if you and Osvif settle the matter
between you. But have you said anything to Gudrun about it?" Bolli
said that he had once hinted at it, but that she had not given much
heed to it, "but I think, however, that Osvif will have most to say in
the matter." Olaf said Bolli could go about the business as it pleased
himself. Not very long after Bolli rode from home with Olaf's sons,
Halldor and Steinthor; there were twelve of them together. They rode
to Laugar, and Osvif and his sons gave them a good welcome. [Sidenote:
He is accepted] Bolli said he wished to speak to Osvif, and he set
forth his wooing, and asked for the hand of Gudrun, his daughter.
Osvif answered in this wise, "As you know, Bolli, Gudrun is a widow,
and has herself to answer for her, but, as fo