The Njál's Saga on Hrapp

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 86. Hrapp'S Voyage From Iceland

• relationship: Hrapp identified himself as son of Aurgunleid, grandson of Geirolf the Fighter, and had slain a man named Aurlyg

  ""I am a son of Aurgunleid, the son of Geirolf the Fighter.""

• attestation: Hrapp had killed Aurlyg son of Aurlyg son of Roger the White, with the men of Weaponfirth holding the blood-feud

  ""The men of Weaponfirth," says Hrapp, "but the man I slew was Aurlyg, the son of Aurlyg, the son of Roger the White.""

• attestation: Hrapp ran out of food at sea and beat two men in a fight over meals

  "Hrapp ran short of food at sea and then he sate him down at the mess of those who were nearest to him. They sprang up with ill words, and so it was that they came to blows, and Hrapp, in a trice, has two men under him."

• attestation: Hrapp manipulated Gudbrand into hosting him by appealing to his reputation for generosity

  ""Methinks, then," says Hrapp, "that all I have heard about thee has been great lies; for it is said that thou takest every one into thy house that asks thee; and that no man is thy match for goodness and kindness, far or near""

• attestation: Hrapp was seated on the lower bench opposite Gudbrand's high seat

  ""To one on the lower bench, over against my high seat.""

• attestation: Hrapp began talking privately with Gudruna despite Gudbrand's warnings, and was suspected of seducing her

  "the end of it was that he took to talking alone with Gudruna, so that many said that he meant to beguile her."

• attestation: Hrapp killed Asvard by hewing asunder his backbone

  "Hrapp springs on his feet as quick as he can, and caught up his axe. Then Asvard wished to turn and get away, but Hrapp hewed asunder his back-bone."

• attestation: Hrapp brazenly told Gudbrand he had killed his overseer and lain with his daughter

  ""Well!" said Hrapp, "if thou must know, I lay by thy daughter's side, and he thought that bad.""

• attestation: Hrapp escaped from Gudbrand's men into a great thick wood and could not be found

  "Up they rose, but he sprang out of doors. They run after him, but he got away to the wood, and they could not lay hold of him."

• attestation: Hrapp found a man named Tofi living alone in a clearing, who was himself an outlaw

  "He asked that man for his name, and he said his name was Tofi."

• attestation: Hrapp blackmailed Tofi into sharing everything by threatening to reveal his hiding place

  ""now I know that we are both of us bad men; for thou wouldst not have come hither away from other men unless thou wert some man's outlaw. And now I give thee two choices, either that I will tell where thou art, or that we two have between us, share and share alike, all that is here.""

• attestation: Hrapp continued secretly meeting Gudruna while her father and brother Thrand hunted him unsuccessfully

  "He still brings about meetings with Gudruna; her father and brother, Thrand and Gudbrand, lay in wait for him, but they could never get nigh him"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 87. Thrain Took To Hrapp

• attestation: Hrapp broke into the shrine shared by Earl Hacon and Gudbrand and found an idol of Thorgerda Shrinebride as tall as a full-grown man

  "Killing-Hrapp came to the shrine of Earl Hacon and Gudbrand, and he went inside the house, and there he saw Thorgerda Shrinebride sitting, and she was as tall as a fullgrown man."

• attestation: Hrapp stripped gold rings from Thorgerda Shrinebride, Thor, and Irpa, then burned the shrine down

  "he strips her of her wimple, and takes the gold ring from off her. Then he sees Thor's car, and takes from him a second gold ring; a third he took from Irpa; and then dragged them all out, and spoiled them of all their gear.

After that he laid fire to the shrine, and burnt it down"

• attestation: Hrapp killed three of the six men who ambushed him, wounded Thrand mortally, and drove two to the woods

  "he slays three men, but wounds Thrand to the death, and drives two to the woods, so that they could bear no news to the earl."

• attestation: Hrapp was too swift-footed for the earl's men and fled to Hlada where ships were preparing to sail

  "The earl urges on his men to run after him, but Hrapp was so swift-footed that they never came near him. Hrapp made for Hlada."

• attestation: Hrapp cursed Njal's sons when they refused him shelter

  ""Would that the worst might befall you from me," says Hrapp."

• attestation: Hrapp threatened to die in front of Thrain and bring everyone's blame upon him if refused

  ""Then," said Hrapp, "here will I take my stand, and here shall I be slain before thine eyes, and then thou wilt have to abide by every man's blame.""

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 90. The Quarrel Of Njal'S Sons With Thrain Sigfus' Son

• attestation: Hrapp lived at Hrappstede but spent most of his time at Gritwater, spoiling everything there while Thrain tolerated him

  "Hrapp owned a farm at Hrappstede, but for all that he was always at Gritwater, and he was thought to spoil everything there. Thrain was good to him."

• attestation: Hrapp and Grani were the worst in speaking against Njal's sons and blocked any atonement

  "The worst of all, in their words against Njal's sons, were Hrapp and Grani; and it was mostly their doing that no atonement was offered to them."

• attestation: Hrapp mocked Njal's sons saying luck had rightly brought them disgrace and hardship

  ""'Twas just luck that swayed the balance, when he got stripes who ought to bear them; and she dragged you under disgrace and hardships, but us away from them.""

• attestation: Hrapp threatened to bring his axe down on Skarphedinn's head

  ""Hold thy tongue, Skarphedinn," said Hrapp, "or I will not spare to bring my axe on thy head.""