The Njál's Saga on Hrut

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord

• relationship: Hrut was Hauskuld's brother through the same mother but had a different father named Heriolf

  "He had a brother named Hrut, who dwelt at Hrutstede; he was of the same mother as Hauskuld, but his father's name was Heriolf."

• attestation: Hrut was handsome, tall, strong, skilled with weapons, mild-tempered, and one of the wisest men

  "Hrut was handsome, tall and strong, well skilled in arms, and mild of temper; he was one of the wisest of men"

• attribution: Hrut prophetically warned that Hallgerda had thief's eyes, foreshadowing future trouble

  "Fair enough is this maid, and many will smart for it, but this I know not, whence thief's eyes have come into our race."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 2. Hrut Woos Unna

• attribution: Hrut expressed uncertainty about compatibility with Unna when first shown her

  "but yet I do not know whether we should get on well together."

• attestation: The inheritance was worth approximately one hundred marks

  "Hrut said it would come to a hundred marks, if he got it all."

• attestation: Hrut entrusted all his property to Hauskuld's safekeeping during his absence

  "Hrut placed all his other property in Hauskuld's hands to keep for him while he was away."

• attestation: They sailed for three weeks and first sighted Hern near Bergen before continuing to the Bay

  "They were out three weeks, and the first land they made was Hern, near Bergen, and so sail eastward to the Bay."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 3. Hrut And Gunnhillda, King'S Mother

• attestation: Hrut and Auzur traveled east to the King's Crag with kinsmen and friends

  "Hrut and Auzur went east to the King's Crag, and when they reached the town, their kinsmen and friends went out to meet and welcome them."

• attestation: Hrut and twelve companions appeared before the king in his hall

  "they went, twelve of them together, and all of them friends or kinsmen, and came into the hall where the king sat over his drink."

• attribution: Hrut told the king he came to Norway both to see the royal court and to claim an inheritance

  "To see your state, lord; and, besides, because I have a great matter of inheritance here in the land, and I shall have need of your help if I am to get my rights."

• attribution: Hrut asked to be accepted into the king's body-guard

  "I wish you to let me live in your court, and become one of your men."

• attestation: Hrut gave Gunnhillda a hundred ells of household woollen and twelve rough cloaks

  "Hrut gave her a hundred ells of household woollen and twelve rough cloaks"

• attestation: Hrut was formally made one of the king's body-guard after the half-month with Gunnhillda

  "Hrut was made one of the king's body-guard"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 4. Of Hrut'S Cruise

• attestation: Hrut sailed south with his combined fleet to pursue Soti

  "Hrut sailed away south with his crews."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 5. Atli Arnvid Son'S Slaying

• attribution: Hrut boldly decided to sail through the Sound despite the hostile fleet

  "Hold on our course," said Hrut, "for `nothing venture, nothing have.'"

• attestation: Hrut killed Asolf with a single blow after Asolf pierced his shield

  "Hrut cut once at Asolf, and that was his death-blow."

• attribution: Hrut foretold Wolf's death, saying he spoke with a fey mouth

  "Something tells me," says Hrut, "that thou speakest with a `fey' mouth."

• attestation: Hrut defeated Atli by cutting off his foot after Atli's sword was knocked from his hand by a stone, then killing him

  "Hrut caught up the sword, and cut his foot from under him. After that he dealt him his death-blow."

• attestation: Hrut returned in autumn with great wealth; the king took a third of his goods

  "Hrut came back towards autumn, and had gotten great store of goods. He went at once to the king, and had a hearty welcome. He begged them to take whatever they pleased of his goods, and the king took a third."

• attestation: Hrut gave Gunnhillda half of all he had in gratitude for recovering the inheritance

  "He thanked her, and gave her half of all he had."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 6. Hrut Sails Out To Iceland

• attestation: Hrut grew homesick for Iceland after spending winter with the king in Norway

  "when spring came he grew very silent."

• attestation: Hrut and Auzur sailed to Iceland and landed in Borgarfirth

  "Hrut went straight to his ship, and they had a fair wind all the way until they ran into Borgarfirth."

• attestation: Hrut rode to Hauskuldstede where Hauskuld welcomed him and heard of his travels

  "Hrut rode straight to Hauskuldstede, and Hauskuld gave him a hearty welcome, and Hrut told him all about his travels."

• attestation: Hrut offered Hauskuld meal for his household in exchange for managing his property

  "I will give thee as much meal as thou needst for thy household next winter."

• attestation: Hrut stayed at Hrutstede until six weeks before winter, then rode east to his wedding with sixty men

  "Hrut stayed at home at Hrutstede till winter was six weeks off, and then the brothers made ready and Auzur with them, to ride to Hrut's wedding. Sixty men ride with them"

• attestation: Hrut gave Unna full authority over the household, which pleased everyone

  "Hrut gave over everything into her hands inside the house, and all were pleased at that"

• attestation: Despite outward appearances, Hrut and Unna's marriage was troubled from the start

  "she and Hrut did not pull well together as man and wife"

• attestation: Hrut's neighbors and household testified he treated Unna well and she had freedom in the house

  "all bore him good witness, saying that she did just as she pleased in the house."

• attestation: The marriage troubles recurred each spring and worsened over time

  "when spring came it was the old story over again, and things grew worse and worse as the spring went on."

• attestation: Hrut had periodic business journeys west to the Firths

  "Hrut had a journey to make to the Westfirths, to get in the money for which he had sold his wares"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 8. Mord Claims His Goods From Hrut

• attestation: Hrut controlled his feelings when he learned Unna had left, staying home silently for half a year

  "Hrut came home, and knit his brows when he heard his wife was gone, but yet kept his feelings well in hand, and stayed at home all that half-year"

• attestation: Hrut challenged Mord to trial by combat (holmgang) with Unna's dower as the stake

  "I challenge thee to fight on the island; there on one side shall be laid all thy daughter's dower, and on the other I will lay down goods worth as much"

• attestation: Hrut showed magnanimity by giving a ring to the boy who mocked the situation

  "Hrut drew a ring from his finger and gave it to him, and said, "Go away, and try no man's temper henceforth.""

• attribution: Hrut accused Mord of pursuing the suit from greed rather than fatherly care

  "Thou hast undertaken this suit, which belongs to thy daughter, rather for the greed of gain and love of strife than in kindliness and manliness."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 10. Hallgerda'S Wedding

• attribution: Hrut predicted the match would bring luck to neither party but agreed to attend the feast

  "this match will bring luck neither to him nor to her; but still I will come to the feast if thou thinkest it will add any honour to thee."

• attribution: Hrut warned Hauskuld to save his money since Hallgerda would waste his goods

  "The day will come," answered Hrut, "when thou wilt have to waste thy goods for Hallgerda's sake, so hold thy hand now."

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 12. Thiostolf'S Flight

• attestation: Hrut awarded two hundred in silver for the slaying of Thorwald, considered a good price for a man

  "For the slaying of Thorwald I award two hundred in silver" -- that was then thought a good price for a man"

• attestation: Hrut stipulated that Hallgerda's portion be halved, returning half to Hauskuld

  "thou shalt pay it down at once, brother, and pa"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 13. Glum'S Wooing

• attribution: Hrut warned that Thiostolf must not accompany Hallgerda south and should be outlawed if he stays too long

  "do not let Thiostolf go south with her if the match comes off, and that he is never there longer than three nights at a time, unless Glum gives him leave, but fall an outlaw by Glum's hand without a"

• attestation: Hrut specifically advised that Thiostolf should never remain at Glum's home longer than three nights without permission

  "he is never there longer than three nights at a time, unless Glum gives him leave"

The Story Of Burnt Njal > 1. Of Fiddle Mord > 17. Glum'S Slaying

• attestation: Hrut drew his sword when he heard that Hallgerda had no hand in Glum's death

  ""Then she has no hand in this deed," says Hrut, and drew his sword."

• attestation: Hrut disarmed Thiostolf by knocking his axe from his grip with a left-handed blow

  "Hrut got out of the way of the stroke by a quick turn, and at the same time struck the back of the axe so smartly with a side-long blow of his left hand, that it flew out of Thiostolf's grasp."

• attestation: Hrut severed Thiostolf's leg above the knee with his sword, then killed him with a head blow

  "Hrut made a blow with his sword in his right hand at Thiostolf's leg, just above the knee, and cut it almost off so that it hung by a little piece"

• attestation: Hrut demonstrated exceptional combat skill by fighting ambidextrously against Thiostolf

  "struck the back of the axe so smartly with a side-long blow of his left hand"

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

• attestation: Hrut invited the disguised Gunnar to share his bed, exactly as Njal had predicted

  "Hrut asked him to stay there that night"

• attestation: Hrut was in his locked bed when Hauskuld arrived with the warning

  "Hrut lay in his locked bed, and asks who have come there?"

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

• attestation: Hrut and Hauskuld considered attacking Gunnar but lacked sufficient strength

  "Hrut and his brother had it in their minds to make an onslaught on him, but they mistrusted their strength."

• attestation: Hrut had to pay up the full dowry amount after losing the case

  "Hrut paid down the money"

• attribution: Hrut threatened Gunnar with future retribution for his legal victory

  "Ill will be thy meed for this."

• attribution: Hrut predicted vengeance would fall on Gunnar but they themselves would not deal the blow

  "'twill be avenged on him sure enough, but we"

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

• attestation: Hrut honestly told Gunnar everything about Hallgerda's difficult temperament

  "Hrut told Gunnar unasked all about Hallgerda's temper"

• attribution: Hrut acknowledged the risk but said both Gunnar and Hallgerda had set their hearts on the match

  "I know that you have both set your hearts on this match; and, besides, ye two are those who run the most risk as to how it turns out."

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

• attestation: Hrut offered to arbitrate and make an award in the dispute between Gunnar and Otkell

  "Hrut said he would make an award"