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The Sagas of the Icelander’s,
Viga Glum’s Saga, 1200’s
Translation: George Johnson
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Death in
Battle: Thorvald
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Death in Battle: Thorvald:
Whilst they were fighting a man came up at full
speed, wearing a hood of skins, with a sword in his hand. He came
where Thorvald Tafalld had fallen before Eystein, and rushing at the
latter, gave him a death-blow. Then he joined himself to Glum’s
side, and Glum called out to him, "Good luck to you Thundarbenda! I
made a good bargain when I bought you. You will pay me well to-day
for the outlay." Now Glum had a thrall who was called by that name,
and that is why he spoke thus; but in reality it was Vigfuss, Glum’s
son, though few or none except Glum himself knew him, for he had
been three winters outlawed and living in concealment, so that most
people thought he had gone abroad. It happened that whilst Glum was
getting away he fell, and lay on the ground, and his two thralls lay
over him, and were killed with spear-thrusts; but at that moment
Marr with his men came up. Then Thorarin got off his horse, and he
and Marr fought, without any other men meddling with them. Glum
sprung up, and joined heartily in the fight, and there was then no
advantage of number on either side. The servant of Thorarin’s, named
Eirik, who had been about his work in the morning, came to his
master’s aid with club in his hand, but without other arms of
offence of defence; and Glum suffered much by him because his men
were injured both in person and in their arms by that club which he
bore. It is told to that Halldor, Glum’s wife, called on the women
to go with her, saying, "We will bind up the wounds of those men who
have any hope of life, whichever party they belong to." When she
came up Thorarin was just struck down by Marr, his shoulder was cut
away in such fashion that the lungs were exposed. But Halldor bound
up his wound, and kept watch over him till the fight was over.
 Halli the fat was the first who came up to
interfere, and many men were killed with him. The end of the combat
was that five men of those from Espihole were killed, that is to
say, Thorvald the crooked, Arngrim, Eysein, Eirik, and Eyvind the
Norwegian. On Glum’s side there fell Thorvald Tafalld, Eyiolf son of
Thorleif, Jod, and the two thralls. Thorarin got home with his
people; Glum also returned with his men, and had the dead carried
into an outbuilding, where the utmost honour was done to the body of
Thorvald, for garments were placed under it, and it was sewn up in a
skin. When the men had returned, Glum said to Halldora, "Our
expedition today would have been successful, if you had staid at
home, and if Thorarin had not escaped with his life." She replied,
"There is little of life in Thorarin, and if he lives you will not
be able to remain in the district long; but if he dies you will not
be able to remain in the country at all." After this Glum said to
Gudbrand, "You did us good service."
Gudbrand replied that nothing of the sort happened; he had only
defended himself as will as he could. "Oh," said Glum, "that is all
very well. I saw clearly what took place; a mere child in age to
kill such a champion as Thorvald! You will always be talked of for
this deed. I got credit abroad in the same way for killing a
Berserker." "I never slew Thorvald," answered Gudbrand, "It is no
use trying to conceal it, my good friend, you gave him the wound
which killed him. Do not shirk the good luck which has fallen to
you." Glum maintained his point with Gudbrand till the latter
believed what he had said, admitted that he had done it, and thought
it an honour to himself, so that it could no longer be concealed,
and the death was formally laid to his charge, This seemed to those
who took up the suit for Thorvald’s slaughter to be less promising
than had been expected. Thorvald was chosen as the man whose death
was to be avenged.
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