but matters went ill with them, for Asgrim slew Gauk.
Asgrim had two sons, and each of them was named Thorhall. They
were both hopeful men. Grim was the name of another of Asgrim’s
sons, and Thorhalla was his daughter’s name. She was the fairest
of women, and well behaved.
Njal came to talk with his son Helgi, and said, “I have thought
of a match for thee, if thou wilt follow my advice.”
“That I will surely,” says he, “for I know that thou both meanest
me well, and canst do well for me; but whither hast thou turned
thine eyes.”
“We will go and woo Asgrim Ellidagrim’s son’s daughter, for that
is the best choice we can make.”
ENDNOTES:
(1) Ellidagrim was Asgrim’s son, Aundot the Crow’s son. His
mother’s name was Jorunn, and she was the daughter of Teit,
the son of Kettlebjorn the Old of Mossfell. The mother of
Teit was Helga, daughter of Thord Skeggi’s son, Hrapp’s son,
Bjorn’s son the Roughfooted, Grim’s son, the Lord of Sogn in
Norway. The mother of Jorunn was Olof Harvest-heal,
daughter of Bodvar, Viking-Kari’s son.
(2) His daughter was Thorgerda, mother of Sigfus, the father of
Saemund the Learned.
27. HELGI NJAL’S SON’S WOOING
A little after they rode out across Thurso water, and fared till
they came into Tongue. Asgrim was at home, and gave them a
hearty welcome; and they were there that night. Next morning
they began to talk, and then Njal raised the question of the
wooing, and asked for Thorhalla for his son Helgi’s hand. Asgrim
answered that well, and said there were no men with whom he would
be more willing to make this bargain than with them. They fell
a-talking then about terms, and the end of it was that Asgrim
betrothed his daughter to Helgi, and the bridal day was named.
Gunnar was at that feast, and many other of the bestmen. After
the feast Njal offered to foster in his house Thorhall, Asgrim’s
son, and he was with Njal long after. He loved Njal more than
his own father. Njal taught him law, so that he became the
greatest lawyer in Iceland in those days.
28. HALLVARD COMES OUT TO ICELAND
There came a ship out from Norway, and ran into Arnbael’s Oyce
(1), and the master of the ship was Hallvard the White, a man
from the Bay (2). He went to stay at Lithend, and was with
Gunnar that winter, and was always asking him to fare abroad with
him. Gunnar spoke little about it, but yet said more unlikely
things might happen; and about spring he went over to
Bergthorsknoll to find out from Njal whether he thought it a wise
step in him to go abroad.
“I think it is wise,” says Njal; “they will think thee there an
honourable man, as thou art.”
“Wilt thou perhaps take my goods into thy keeping while I am
away, for I wish my brother Kolskegg to fare with me; but I would
