The Egil's Saga on Thorolf

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons.

• attestation: Thorolf was handsome, cheerful, liberal, and impetuous, favoring his mother's kin in appearance

  "Thorolf was most comely as well as doughty, favoring his mother's kin; very cheery was he, liberal, impetuous in everything, a good trader, winning the hearts of all men."

• attestation: Thorolf began raiding at age twenty with a longship provided by Kveldulf, joined by Eyvind Lambi and Aulvir Hnuf

  "when Thorolf was twenty years old, then he made him ready to go a harrying. Kveldulf gave him a long-ship, and Kari of Berdla's sons, Eyvind and Aulvir, resolved to go on that voyage"

• attestation: Thorolf and his companions raided in summers and spent winters at home for several years, accumulating wealth

  "they roved the seas in the summer, and got them wealth, and had a large booty to divide. For several summers they were out roving, but stayed at home in winter with their fathers."

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 2 - Of Aulvir Hnuf.

• attestation: Thorolf and Eyvind Lambi continued raiding after Aulvir Hnuf gave it up

  "Thorolf and Eyvind Lambi kept it on"

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 6 - Thorolf resolves to serve the king.

• attestation: Thorolf and Eyvind Lambi returned home from sea-roving in autumn

  "Thorolf Kveldulf's son and Eyvind Lambi came home from sea-roving in the autumn."

• attribution: Thorolf disagreed with his father and resolved to join Harold's guard, believing it would bring advancement

  "That,' said Thorolf, 'is quite contrary to what my mind tells me, for I think I shall get from him much advancement. And on this I am resolved, to seek the king, and become his man"

• attribution: Thorolf praised Harold's guard as composed entirely of valiant men and described the king as generous

  "his guard is made up of none but valiant men. To join their company, if they will have me, seems to me most desirable"

• attribution: Thorolf argued that those who refused Harold's homage became men of nought, fleeing abroad or becoming hirelings

  "all that turn their backs upon him and pay him not homage with friendship, that they all become men of nought, some flee abroad, some are made hirelings."

• attribution: Kveldulf pointed out the futility of neutrality, asking why Kveldulf had not fought Harold if he foresaw danger

  "why didst thou not go to battle against him with that king in whose service thou wert before? Now, methinks it is most unreasonable neither to be his friend nor his enemy."

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 8 - Of Bard and Thorolf.

• attestation: Thorolf and Eyvind Lambi arrived at Harold's court with a swift twenty-benched longship

  "That same autumn came to king Harold Thorolf Kveldulf's son and Eyvind Lambi, Kari of Berdla's son, and they were well received. They brought thither a swift twenty-benched long-ship"

• attestation: Harold accepted Thorolf into his household and guard

  "After this Thorolf was made of the king's household, and one of his guard."

• attestation: Thorolf was seated between Aulvir Hnuf and Bard, and the three formed a close friendship

  "the king appointed him a seat between Aulvir Hnuf and Bard; and these three struck up a close friendship."

• attestation: Thorolf and Bard were considered a well-matched pair in comeliness, stature, strength, and deeds

  "all men said of Thorolf and Bard that they were a well-matched pair for comeliness, stature, strength, and all doughty deeds."

• attestation: Bard invited Thorolf to travel north with him for his wedding, promising to introduce him to notable kin

  "Bard asked Thorolf to go north with him, saying (as was true) that he would meet there many of his kin, men of renown, whom he had not yet seen or known."

• attestation: Thorolf and Bard went back south to the king's court after the wedding

  "Thorolf and Bard went back south to the king."

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 9 - Battle in Hafr's Firth.

• attestation: Thorolf went north to Halogaland in autumn to take possession of the gifts from Bard

  "In the autumn the king went north to Throndheim. Then Thorolf asked to go north to Halogaland, to see after those gifts which he had received in the summer from his kinsman Bard."

• attestation: Thorolf married Sigridr, Bard's widow, with Harold's approval, taking all of Bard's property

  "Thorolf should take all that Bard had given him, showing that it was the king's will and grant."

• attestation: Thorolf took over all Bard's property in Torgar and became a very wealthy man

  "Then Thorolf took all the chattels, and entered on the stewardship."

• attestation: Thorolf prepared a great feast at his estate and invited many kinsmen and men of renown

  "Then Thorolf went home to his estate, and his comrades with him. There he prepared a great feast, and bade many thereto. Of Thorolf's kin many were present, men of renown."

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 10 - Thorolf in Finmark.

• attestation: Thorolf went to the fells in winter with ninety men, far more than the usual thirty of the king's stewards

  "In the winter Thorolf took his way up to the fells with a large force of not less than ninety men, whereas before it had been the wont of the king's stewards to have thirty men, and sometimes fewer."

• attestation: Thorolf traded extensively with the Finns and also hunted and fished in the fell region

  "He took with him plenty of wares for trading. At once he appointed a meeting with the Finns, took of them the tribute, and held a fair with them."

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 11 - The king feasts with Thorolf.

• attestation: Thorolf prepared a costly banquet for the king with numerous guests

  "Thorolf prepared a banquet for the king at great cost; it was fixed for when the king should come there. To this he bade a numerous company."

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 14 - Thorolf again in Finmark.

• attestation: Thorolf went to Finmark again in winter with about a hundred men to trade with the Finns

  "That winter Thorolf went again to Finmark, taking with him about a hundred men."

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 16 - Thorolf and the king.

• attestation: Thorolf went south to Harold at Throndheim with tribute, ninety well-armed men, and much wealth

  "In the summer Thorolf went south to king Harold at Throndheim, taking with him all the tribute and much wealth besides, and ninety men well arrayed."

• attestation: Thorolf presented himself before the king with the Finn tribute and additional gifts

  "Thorolf went before the king, and gave him his greeting, and offered him all the tribute."

• attestation: Thorolf protested his innocence and offered witnesses that the tribute he sent was correct

  "Thorolf answered that he had sent the king all the tribute that was his due."

• attribution: Thorolf refused to surrender his followers despite yielding his titles and grants to the king

  "Thorolf looked on either hand where stood his house-carles; then said he: 'Loth were I to deliver up these my followers: about thy titles and grants to me, O king, thou wilt have thine own way, but my following I will not deliver up while my means last"

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 17 - Hildirida's sons in Finmark and at Harold's court.

• attestation: Thorolf's kinsmen were much displeased by the transfer of the stewardship to Hildirida's sons

  "Thorolf's kinsmen and friends were much displeased at the change."

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 19 - Thorolf retaliates.

• attestation: Thorolf launched a large warship in spring and equipped it with over a hundred well-armed house-carles

  "Thorolf launched a large warship of his own, and he had it made ready, and equipped his house-carles, taking with him more than a hundred men; and a goodly company there were, and well weaponed."

• attestation: Thorolf sailed south along the coast raiding settlements, especially targeting Harold's supporters

  "And when a fair wind blew, Thorolf steered south along the shore"

• attestation: Thorolf sailed west with three ships past Fold to Lidandisness, raiding cattle on shore

  "Thorolf had now three ships, with which he sailed westwards by Fold. Then they took the high road of the sea to Lidandisness, going with all despatch, but making raid and lifting cattle on ness and shore."

• attestation: From Lidandisness Thorolf sailed north, pillaging wherever he touched land

  "Northwards from Lidandisness they held a course further out, but pillaged wherever they touched the land."

Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons. > Chapter 22 - Death of Thorolf Kveldulfsson.

• attestation: Thorolf led the sortie from his house, followed by Thorgils Yeller, with fierce fighting at the doorway

  "First went out Thorolf, then Thorgils Yeller, then the rest one after another. Fierce then was the fight"