The Grettir's Saga on Thorsteinn Dromund

The Saga Of Grettir The Strong > Chapter Xiii. Thorgrim Settles At Bjarg And Marries. His Son Asmund > Visits Norway And Marries Twice

• attestation: Rannveig fell ill and died while Thorsteinn was half grown, and Asmund sailed away while Thorsteinn stayed with her relations

  "When young Thorsteinn was half grown up his mother fell ill and died, and Asmund cared no more for Norway."

The Saga Of Grettir The Strong > Chapter Xli. Thorsteinn Dromund'S Arms

• attestation: Thorsteinn Dromund observed Grettir's arms were the largest he had ever seen, explaining the force of his blows

  ""I have been looking at your arms, kinsman, and think it is not wonderful that your blows fall heavily upon some. Never have I seen any man's arms that were like yours.""

• attribution: Thorsteinn Dromund prophesied that his thin arms would avenge Grettir someday

  ""It may be so," said Thorsteinn, "and yet you may know that these thin arms of mine and no others will avenge you some day;--if you are avenged.""

The Saga Of Grettir The Strong > Chapter Lxxxvi. Grettir'S Death Avenged By His Brother Thorsteinn > Dromund

• attestation: Thorsteinn Dromund handed over his property to kinsmen and followed Thorbjorn Angle to Constantinople to avenge Grettir

  "Thorsteinn Dromund was a wealthy man and highly thought of. On hearing of Angle's departure to Constantinople he handed over his property to his kinsmen and followed him, dogging his movements as he went, without Angle knowing."

• attestation: Both Thorsteinn and Thorbjorn joined the Varangian Guards without recognizing each other among the crowd

  "Both wanted to be received into the Varangian Guards, and their offer was well received directly it was known that they were Norsemen."

• attestation: Thorsteinn recognized Thorbjorn by the sword, took it to examine, and struck Thorbjorn dead on the spot

  "Dromund took the sword, at once raised it aloft and struck a blow at Angle. It came into his head with such force that it penetrated to his jaw and Thorbjorn fell dead to the ground."

• attestation: Thorsteinn was arrested for killing a man in the sanctity of the Assembly; the Varangians' law demanded death for such acts

  "The officer of the place put Thorsteinn under arrest"

• attestation: Thorsteinn Dromund was sentenced to sit in a dark dungeon awaiting death unless someone paid ransom

  "He was to sit in a dark chamber in a dungeon and there await his death unless some one came to pay a ransom for him."

• attestation: Thorsteinn found another prisoner near death from misery in the foul cold dungeon

  "When he reached the dungeon he found a man who had been there a long time and was all but dead from misery. It was both foul and cold."

• attestation: Thorsteinn cheered his fellow prisoner by singing so loudly that his voice resounded from the walls and was heard on the public road

  "Then he began to sing songs. He was such a singer that it would be hard to find his like, and he spared nothing. The dungeon was close to the public road and Thorsteinn sang so loud that it resounded from the walls"

The Saga Of Grettir The Strong > Chapter Lxxxviii. Adventures Of Thorsteinn And Spes

• attestation: Thorsteinn swam from under the house to shore and held up a firebrand as the pre-agreed signal of his safe arrival

  "Thorsteinn had swum away from the house and landed at a convenient place, where he got a firebrand and held it aloft so that it could be seen from the lady's house."

The Saga Of Grettir The Strong > Chapter Xc. Thorsteinn And Spes Return To Norway

• attestation: Thorsteinn Dromund remained with the Varangians and was held in the highest estimation for his prowess

  "Thorsteinn Dromund remained with the Varangians, where he was held in such high estimation that his prowess was considered to be beyond that of nearly every man"

The Saga Of Grettir The Strong > Chapter Xcii. The End Of Thorsteinn And Spes

• attestation: Thorsteinn and Spes traveled to Rome and confessed everything to the appointed confessor with true humility

  "They travelled then the whole way to Rome, and appeared before him who was appointed to hear confessions. They related truly all that had happened, all the cunning tricks wherewith they had achieved their union."

• attestation: The Pope gave them a penance that they submitted to willingly, proving their repentance was genuine

  "They submitted with humility to the penances laid upon them"