The Grettir's Saga on Haflidi

The Saga Of Grettir The Strong > Chapter Xvii. Grettir Sails For Norway And Is Wrecked On Haramarsey

• attestation: Haflidi at Reydarfell owned a ship docked in the Hvita river; his mate Bard had a young pretty wife

  "There dwelt at Reydarfell on the banks of the Hvita a man named Haflidi, a mariner, owning a ship of his own which was lying in dock in the Hvita river."

• attestation: Haflidi cleverly defused the crew's anger by asking Grettir to lampoon him, appearing to share their suffering

  ""But you might compose a verse which should at first appear foul, but on closer view prove to be fair.""

• attestation: Haflidi urged Grettir to rise and work, composing a verse saying the woman who sewed his garments commands him to toil

  ""Arise from thy den! deep furrows we plough! Remember the word thou didst speak to the fair. Thy garment she sewed; but now she commands that thou join in the toil while the land is afar.""