The Njál's Saga on Gunnar

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 19. Gunnar Comes Into The Story

• relationship: Gunnar was a kinsman of Unna and his mother was named Rannveig

  "There was a man whose name was Gunnar. He was one of Unna's kinsmen, and his mother's name was Rannveig"

• relationship: Gunnar's father was named Hamond

  "Gunnar's father was named Hamond"

• attestation: Gunnar dwelt at Lithend in the Fleetlithe

  "Gunnar Hamond's son dwelt at Lithend, in the Fleetlithe."

• attestation: Gunnar was the most skilled warrior of all men, able to fight equally with left and right hand

  "He could cut or thrust or shoot if he chose as well with his left as with his right hand, and he smote so swiftly with his sword, that three seemed to flash through the air at once."

• attestation: Gunnar was the finest archer and could leap more than his own height in full armour

  "He was the best shot with the bow of all men, and never missed his mark. He could leap more than his own height, with all his"

• attestation: Gunnar was tall, strong, handsome, gentle, bountiful, and always took the side of right

  "He was a tall man in growth, and a strong man -- best skilled in arms of all men."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 21. Unna Goes To See Gunnar

• attestation: Gunnar offered Unna money but she refused, wanting instead to recover her dowry from Hrut

  ""Take as much money as thou needest from what I have out at interest."

"Nay," she said, "I will not waste thy goods.""

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 22. Njal'S Advice

• attestation: Gunnar was to travel with two horses each, one fat and one lean, as part of the deception

  "each of you must have two horses, one fat, the other lean."

• attestation: The plan involved Gunnar pretending to be a travelling merchant to gain access to Hrut's home

  "men will ask who is this tall man, and thy mates shall sa"

• attestation: Gunnar was to lament the decline of men since Mord Fiddle's death to draw Hrut into conversation

  "there is small choice of men left in those parts since Fiddle Mord died."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 23. Huckster Hedinn.

• attestation: Gunnar traveled disguised as Huckster Hedinn across Bluewoodheath toward Hrut's home

  "Gunnar rode from home two nights afterwards, and two men with him; they rode along until they got on Bluewoodheath"

• attestation: Travelers mocked the peddler disguise, saying worse was not to be expected

  "the others said a worse was not to be looked for behind, when such a man as he went before."

• attestation: Gunnar followed Njal's plan exactly, executing each step as prescribed

  "Gunnar went on doing everything as Njal had laid it down for him"

• attestation: Gunnar stayed overnight at Hauskuldstede before proceeding to Hrutstede

  "when he came to Hauskuldstede he stayed there the night, and thence he went"

• attestation: Gunnar performed the legal summons for Unna's dowry while Hrut was in bed

  "Gunnar summoned Hrut for the dowry"

• attestation: A servant noticed gold fringe and scarlet cloth beneath the peddler's disguise

  "I saw how a golden fringe and a bit of scarlet cloth peeped out at his arm, and on his right arm he had a ring of gold."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 24. Gunnar And Hrut Strive At The Thing.

• attestation: Gunnar rode to the Althing to pursue the suit for Unna's dowry against Hrut

  "Gunnar rode to the Althing, and Hrut and Hauskuld rode thither too with a very great company."

• attestation: Gunnar formally presented his case in the Broadfirth court with oath and evidence

  "Gunnar next went to the court of the men of Broadfirth, and bade Hrut listen to his oath and declaration of the cause of the suit"

• attestation: Gunnar successfully recovered Unna's dowry from Hrut through legal means

  "Gunnar pursues his suit"

• comparison: Gunnar achieved peacefully what Mord Fiddle had failed to accomplish through his earlier suit

  "Gunnar pursues his suit, and began by calling on his neighbours to bear witness"

• attribution: Gunnar composed a verse declaring warriors should not shed blood over a woman's quarrel

  "But if we for woman's quarrel, Warriors born to brandish sword, Glut the wolf with manly gore, Worse the lot of both would be."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 25. Unna'S Second Wedding

• attestation: Gunnar and Njal disapproved of the match since Valgard was cross-grained with few friends

  "Gunnar and Njal, and many others thought ill of that, for he was a cross-grained man and had few friends."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 27. Helgi Njal'S Son'S Wooing

• attestation: Gunnar attended the wedding feast

  "Gunnar was at that feast"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 28. Hallvard Comes Out To Iceland

• attestation: Gunnar asked Njal to manage his property while he was abroad

  "Wilt thou perhaps take my goods into thy ke"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 29. Gunnar Goes Abroad

• attestation: Gunnar and Kolskegg sailed to Tonsberg in Norway for winter

  "Gunnar fared abroad, and Kolskegg with him. They sailed first to Tonsberg (1), and were there that winter."

• attestation: Gunnar refused to visit Earl Hacon and instead asked Hallvard for longships to go raiding

  ""No; I will not do that," says Gunnar. "Hast thou ever a long- ship?""

• relationship: Kolskegg was Gunnar's brother who accompanied him abroad

  "Gunnar fared abroad, and Kolskegg with him."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 30. Gunnar Goes A-Sea-Roving

• attestation: Gunnar and Kolskegg shared one ship while Hallvard captained another

  "Gunnar held on out of the river, and he and Kolskegg were both on board one ship. But Hallvard was on board another."

• attribution: Gunnar ordered defensive readiness but avoidance of unprovoked combat

  "Let us be ready for anything if they turn towards us! but else let us have nothing to do with them."

• attestation: Gunnar proved a formidable sea-warrior, defeating all opponents he faced

  "Gunnar smote him on the head with the bill"

• attestation: Gunnar campaigned south to Denmark, east to Smoland in Sweden, and had victory everywhere

  "Thence they held on south to Denmark, and thence east to Smoland, (2) and had victory wherever they went."

• attestation: The following summer Gunnar fought sea-rovers at Reval and won

  "The next summer they held on to Reval, and fell in there with sea-rovers, and fought at once, and won the fight."

• attestation: Gunnar encountered Hallgrim and his brothers at Osel, where Hallgrim possessed a magical halberd

  "they steered east to Osel,(3) and lay there somewhile under a ness."

• attestation: Gunnar defeated and killed Hallgrim, taking his magical halberd as his own weapon

  "Gunnar slew Hallgrim"

• attestation: Gunnar's fame spread across the Baltic lands through his sea-roving victories

  "had victory wherever they went."

• attestation: The expedition took two summers of sea-roving across northern Europe

  "They did not come back in autumn. The next summer they held on to Reval"

• attestation: Gunnar encountered a man named Tofi who was fleeing outlawry at Osel

  "there they saw a man coming down from the ness above them; Gunnar"

• attribution: Gunnar composed a verse vowing never to part from the captured halberd until death

  "Deft in fight, the wolf's dear feeder, Death alone us two shall part."

• attestation: Gunnar kept his vow to bear the bill for the rest of his life

  "that vow Gunnar kept, in that he bore the bill while he lived."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 31. Gunnar Goes To King Harold Gorm'S Son And Earl Hacon

• attestation: Gunnar sailed from the east with ten ships laden with goods to Heidarby in Denmark

  "Gunnar sailed from the east with much goods. He had ten ships, and ran in with them to Heidarby in Denmark."

• attestation: Gunnar traveled north to visit Earl Hacon in Norway after Denmark

  "Gunnar went to see Earl Hacon"

• attestation: Gunnar's fame as a warrior was already widely known across Scandinavia

  "there was no man his match in all the north lands"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 32. Gunnar Comes Out To Iceland

• attestation: Gunnar returned to Iceland early in summer with Hallvard and Kolskegg

  "Gunnar fitted out his ship as early as he could, and Hallvard fared out with him and Kolskegg. They came out early in the summer"

• attestation: Gunnar rode to the Althing with fine equipment and drew admiration from all

  "Gunnar rode to the Thing"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 33. Gunnar'S Wooing

• attestation: Gunnar arrived at the Althing so finely arrayed that everyone came out to admire his company

  "when they came to the Thing they were so well arrayed that none could match them in bravery; and men came out of every booth to wonder at them."

• attestation: Gunnar met Hallgerda at the Althing and was immediately attracted to her beauty

  "Gunnar looked at the woman and she pleased him well"

• attestation: Gunnar approached Hauskuld and Hrut to negotiate for Hallgerda's hand

  "Gunnar went to see Hauskuld and Hrut"

• attestation: Despite warnings about Hallgerda's character, Gunnar was determined to marry her

  "Gunnar rode to the booths of the men of Rangriver"

• attestation: Gunnar's fame and wealth from abroad made him a highly desirable match

  "none could match them in bravery"

• attestation: Multiple people at the Althing discussed the wisdom of matching Gunnar with Hallgerda

  "Many men came to see Gunnar, and ask tidings"

• attestation: Gunnar was widely welcomed at the Thing with his kinsmen from Rangriver

  "Gunnar rode to the booths of the men of Rangriver, and was there with his kinsmen."

• attestation: Despite Hallgerda's faults, Gunnar proceeded with the betrothal

  "Gunnar at first thought that there was more than enough that was wanting; but at last it came about that they s"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 34. Of Thrain Sigfus' Son

• attestation: Gunnar and Hallgerda were married at a well-attended feast

  "Thrain and his wife were bidden to the wedding"

• attestation: Gunnar declined to speak about Thrain since he was kin, deferring to Njal's testimony

  "I will not say aught about the man, because he is near of kin; but say thou about him, Njal"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 35. The Visit To Bergthorsknoll

• attestation: Gunnar and Njal had a custom of feasting at each other's homes in alternate winters

  "it was the custom between Gunnar and Njal, that each made the other a feast, winter and winter about, for friendship's sake"

• attestation: Gunnar and Hallgerda visited Bergthorsknoll for the annual feast

  "Gunnar and Hallgerda set off for Bergthorsknoll"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 36. Kol Slew Swart

• attribution: Gunnar warned Hallgerda to behave before leaving for the Thing

  "Be good now while I am away, and show none of thine ill temper in anything with which my friends have to do."

• attestation: Gunnar received news of Swart's killing at the Thing but initially withheld judgment

  "Gunnar said no hard words at first of Hallgerda to the messenger, and men knew not at first whether he thought well or ill of it."

• attestation: Gunnar went to Njal's booth to settle the matter for Swart's killing

  "he stood up, and bade his men go with him: they did so, and fared to Njal's booth."

• attestation: The pattern of household killings escalated despite the masters' desire for peace

  "he stood up, and bade his men go with him"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 37. The Slaying Of Kol, Whom Atli Slew

• attestation: Gunnar received word of Kol's killing at the Thing and showed little reaction

  "he answered little or nothing"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 40. Gunnar And Njal Make Peace About Brynjolf'S Slaying

• attestation: Gunnar and Njal settled the case with atonement to keep their friendship intact

  "Gunnar and Njal made peace"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 43. Njal And Gunnar Make Peace For The Slaying Of Thord

• attribution: Gunnar was deeply grieved by Thord's killing and said no worse tidings could reach him

  "This has happened ill, and no tidings could come to my ears which I should think worse"

• attestation: Gunnar went immediately to Njal to seek peaceful resolution despite the gravity of the killing

  "yet we will now go at once and see Njal. I still hope he may take it well, though he be sorely tried."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 44. Sigmund Mocks Njal And His Sons

• attribution: Gunnar told Sigmund he was an unlucky man who misused his gifts and should stop causing trouble

  "Thou art a more unlucky man than I thought, and turnest thy good gifts to thine own ill."

• attribution: Gunnar warned Sigmund not to provoke Njal's sons further after the peace settlement

  "take care that thou dost not let another fly come into thy"

• attestation: Gunnar was powerless to stop Sigmund's mockery despite having warned him

  "Gunnar"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 45. The Slaying Of Sigmund And Skiolld

• attestation: Despite the escalating household killings, Gunnar and Njal's bond remained strong

  "Njal"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 48. How Hallgerda Makes Malcolm Steal From Kirkby

• attestation: Guests from the eastern Side were staying at Lithend when the theft was planned

  "a great crowd of men from the Side (1) east turned in as guests at his house."

• attestation: Gunnar was away at the Thing when Hallgerda organized the theft

  "Gunnar is about to ride to the Thing"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 50. Of Skamkell'S Lying

• attestation: Gunnar was being drawn into a legal battle despite his efforts at peaceful resolution

  "Gunnar"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 51. Of Gunnar

• attestation: Gunnar rode to the Althing with Njal's sons and the sons of Sigfus, forming a formidable band

  "Gunnar rode to the Thing and all the sons of Sigfus; Njal and his sons too, they all went with Gunnar; and it was said that no band was so well knit and hardy as theirs."

• attestation: Gunnar visited Hrut and Hauskuld at their booth and told them about the suit

  "Gunnar went one day to the booth of the Dalemen; Hrut was by the booth and Hauskuld, and they greeted Gunnar well."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 54. The Fight At Rangriver

• attestation: Gunnar's shepherd warned him of armed men riding down along Markfleet toward his land

  "I saw men riding down along Markfleet"

• attestation: Gunnar fought the attackers at Rangriver with his bill and sword

  "Gunnar was out of doors at Lithend"

• attestation: Gunnar emerged victorious despite being outnumbered

  "Gunnar"

• attestation: Gunnar used his bill to wrench Skamkell's axe away into the river

  "caught the axe under one of its horns with such a wrench that it flew out of Skamkell's hand away into the river."

• attestation: Gunnar composed a verse after the fight celebrating his martial prowess

  "Then Gunnar sang a song"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 55. Njal'S Advice To Gunnar

• attestation: Gunnar rode to Bergthorsknoll to consult Njal about the legal consequences of the killings

  "Gunnar rode to Bergthorsknoll"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 56. Gunnar And Geir The Priest Strive At The Thing

• attestation: Gunnar called on Geir the Priest to hear his defense and legal counterarguments

  "Then Gunnar, in his turn, called on Geir the Priest to listen to his oath, and to the defence which he was about to bring forward in the suit."

• attestation: Gunnar emerged from the legal proceedings with his honor intact

  "Gunnar"

• attestation: The suit involved multiple killings from the fight at Rangriver

  "Gunnar"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 57. Of Starkad And His Sons

• attribution: Gunnar agreed to fight his horse against Starkad's despite warnings

  ""I would dare to fight him," says Gunnar"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 58. How Gunnar'S Horse Fought

• attestation: Gunnar's father-in-law Hauskuld Dalakoll's son died

  "Just then Gunnar heard of the death of his father-in-law Hauskuld"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 59. Of Asgrim And Wolf Uggis' Son

• attestation: Gunnar's alliance network continued to grow as he helped friends at the Thing

  "Gunnar"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 60. An Attack Against Gunnar Agreed On

• attestation: Gunnar carried his bill and sword, Kolskegg had a short sword, and Hjort had weapons

  "Gunnar had the bill and his sword, Oliver's gift; but Kolskegg had his short sword; Hjort, too, ha"

• attestation: An attack on Gunnar was planned by a coalition of his enemies

  "They rode three together, Gunnar and his brothers."

• attestation: Gunnar and his brothers rode together, armed and prepared for attack

  "They rode three together, Gunnar and his brothers. Gunnar had the bill and his sword"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 61. Gunnar'S Dream

• attestation: Gunnar had a prophetic dream as he rode east over Thurso water

  "Gunnar rides east over Thurso water, but when he had gone a little way from the river, he grew very drowsy"

• attestation: Gunnar's drowsiness and dream were supernatural warnings of the ambush ahead

  "he grew very drowsy"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > Endnotes:

• attestation: 'Ocean's fire' is a poetic periphrasis for gold

  ""Ocean's fire," a periphrasis for "gold.""

• attestation: 'Rhine's fire' is a periphrasis for gold

  ""Rhine's fire," a periphrasis for gold."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 62. The Slaying Of Hjort And Fourteen Men

• attestation: Gunnar used the bill to devastating effect throughout the battle, killing multiple opponents

  "Gunnar thrusts at him with the bill"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 63. Njal'S Counsel To Gunnar

• attestation: Gunnar's killing count was growing and creating more enemies at each Thing

  "Gunnar"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 65. Of Fines And Atonements

• attestation: Gunnar and the sons of Sigfus and Njal's sons marched together as a formidable band at the Thing

  "Gunnar, and the sons of Sigfus, and Njal's sons, went altogether in one band, and they marched so swiftly and closely that men who came in their way h"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 68. Of Njal And Those Namesakes

• attestation: Gunnar and Njal worked together to outmaneuver the growing conspiracy

  "Gunnar"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 69. Olaf The Peacock'S Gifts To Gunnar

• attestation: The political situation required constant diplomacy and alliance-building

  "Gunnar"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 71. The Slaying Of Thorgeir Otkell'S Son

• attestation: Blood burst from Gunnar's bill as a supernatural omen as he rode toward Rangriver

  "That token happened as Gunnar and his brother rode up towards Rangriver, that much blood burst out on the bill."

• attestation: The killing of Thorgeir Otkell's son broke Njal's counsel to never kill twice in the same bloodline

  "Gunnar slew Thorgeir"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 73. Of The Atonement

• attestation: The atonement included both compensation payments and terms of banishment

  "atonement"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 74. Kolskegg Goes Abroad

• attestation: Gunnar prepared to depart Iceland in compliance with his banishment

  "Gunnar"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 76. Gunnar'S Slaying

• attestation: Gunnar sensed his hound Sam's death and foresaw his own

  "Gunnar woke up in his hall and said, "Thou hast been sorely treated, Sam, my fosterling, and this warning is so meant that our two deaths will not be far apart.""

• attestation: Gunnar's hall at Lithend was built of wood with a beamed roof and window-slits fitted with shutters

  "Gunnar's hall was made all of wood, and roofed with beams above, and there were window-slits under the beams that carried the roof, and they were fitted with shutters."

• attestation: Gunnar slept in a loft above the hall together with Hallgerda and his mother

  "Gunnar slept in a loft above the hall, and so did Hallgerda and his mother."

• attestation: Gunnar shot an enemy arrow back at them, striking Eylif Aunund's son and wounding him gravely

  "Gunnar caught up the arrow and shot it after them, and struck Eylif Aunund's son, and he got a great wound"

• attestation: The attackers pulled the entire roof off Gunnar's hall using ropes

  "So they took the ropes and all lent a hand to carry this out, and before Gunnar was aware of it, they had pulled the whole roof off the hall."

• attestation: Gunnar killed Thorbrand by driving his bill through him and hurling him to the ground

  "Gunnar clutches the bill with both hands, and turns on him quickly and drives it through him, and hurls him down on the ground."

• attestation: Gunnar struck Asbrand through his shield, breaking both his arms and knocking him from the wall

  "Gunnar thrusts at him with his bill, and he threw his shield before the blow, but the bill passed clean through the shield and broke both his arms, and down he fell from the wall."

• attestation: By this point Gunnar had wounded eight men and slain two, never wincing at his own wounds

  "Gunnar had already wounded eight men and slain those twain (1). By that time Gunnar had got two wounds, and all men said that he never once winced either at wounds or death."

• attestation: Gunnar asked Hallgerda for two locks of her hair to twist into a bowstring to save his life

  ""Give me two locks of thy hair, and ye two, my mother and thou, twist them together into a bowstring for me.""

• attestation: Gunnar wounded eight more men before being slain, fighting until worn out with toil

  "Gunnar made a stout and bold defence, and now wounds other eight men with such sore wounds that many lay at death's door. Gunnar keeps them all off until he fell worn out with toil. Then they wounded him with many and great wounds, but still he got away out of their hands, and held his own against them a while longer, but at last it came about that they slew him."

• attestation: Thorkell the Skald sang that Gunnar wounded sixteen and killed two in his defence

  "Hero of the golden collar, Sixteen with the sword he wounded; In the shock that Odin loveth, Two before him tasted death."

• attestation: Gunnar's slaying was universally ill spoken of and caused great grief throughout the country

  "Gunnar's slaying was heard of, and ill spoken of throughout the whole country, and his death was a great grief to many a man."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 77. Gunnar Sings A Song Dead

• attestation: Gunnar was buried sitting upright in a cairn

  "They cast a cairn over Gunnar, and made him sit upright in the cairn."

• attestation: A neat-herd and serving-maid witnessed Gunnar singing merrily inside his cairn

  "the neat-herd and the serving-maid were driving cattle by Gunnar's cairn. They thought that he was merry, and that he was singing inside the cairn."

• attestation: Gunnar sang from the cairn that he would sooner die than yield an inch

  "`I will die the prop of battle, Sooner die than yield an inch, Yes, sooner die than yield an inch.'"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 81. Of Thrain: How He Slew Kol

• attestation: News of Gunnar of Lithend's death reached Norway and caused Earl Hacon to keep Thrain from returning to Iceland

  "Then those tidings were heard from Iceland, which many thought great news, the death of Gunnar of Lithend. Then the earl would not that Thrain should fare out of Iceland, and so there he stayed with him."