One summer, it is said, a ship came from over the main into
Gufaros. Bergfinn was he hight who was the master thereof, a Northman of kin,
rich in goods, and somewhat stricken in years, and a wise man he was withal.
Now, goodman Thorstein rode to the ship, as it was his wont
mostly to rule the market, and this he did now. The Eastmen got housed, but
Thorstein took the master to himself, for thither he prayed to go. Bergfinn was
of few words throughout the winter, but Thorstein treated him well The Eastman
had great joy of dreams.
One day in spring-tide Thorstein asked Bergfinn if he would
ride with him up to Hawkfell, where at that time was the Thing-stead of the
Burg-firthers; for Thorstein had been told that the walls of his booth had
fallen in. The Eastman said he had good will to go, so that day they rode, some
three together, from home, and the house-carles of Thorstein withal, till they
came up under Hawkfell to a farmstead called Foxholes. There dwelt a man of
small wealth called Atli, who was Thorstein's tenant Thorstein bade him come
and work with them, and bring with him hoe and spade. This he did, and when
they came to the tofts of the booth, they set to work all of them, and did out
the walls.
The weather was hot with sunshine that day, and Thorstein
and the Eastman grew heavy; and when they had moved out the walls, those two
sat down within the tofts, and Thorstein slept, and fared ill in his sleep. The
Eastman sat beside him, and let him have his dream fully out, and when he awoke
he was much wearied. Then the Eastman asked him what he had dreamt, as he had
had such an ill time of it in his sleep.
Thorstein said, "Nay, dreams betoken nought."
But as they rode homeward in the evening, the Eastman asked
him again what he had dreamt.
Thorstein said, "If I tell thee the dream, then shalt
thou unriddle it to me, as it verily is."
The Eastman said he would risk it.
Then Thorstein said: "This was my dream; for methought
I was at home at Burg, standing outside the men's-door, and I looked up at the
house-roof, and on the ridge I saw a swan, goodly and fair, and I thought it
was mine own, and deemed it good beyond all things. Then I saw a great eagle
sweep down from the mountains, and fly thitherward and alight beside the swan,
and chuckle over her lovingly; and methouht the swan seemed well content
thereat; but I noted that the eagle was black-eyed, and that on him were iron
claws: valiant he seemed to me.
"After this I thought I saw another fowl come flying
from the south quarter, and he, too, came hither to Burg, and sat down on the
house beside the swan, and would fain be fond with her. This also was a mighty
eagle.
"But soon I thought that the eagle first-come ruffled
up at the coming of the other. Then they fought fiercely and long, and this I
saw that both bled, and such was the end of their play, that each tumbled
either way down from the house-roof, and there they lay both dead.
"But the swan sat left alone, drooping much, and sad of
semblance.
"Then I saw a fowl fly from the west; that was a
falcon, and he sat beside the swan and made fondly towards her, and they flew
away both together into one and the same quarter, and therewith I awoke.
"But a dream of no mark this is," he says,
"and will in all likelihood betoken gales, that they shall meet in the air
from those quarters whence I deemed the fowl flew."
The Eastman spake: "I deem it nowise such," saith
he.
Thorstein said, "Make of the dream, then, what seemeth
likest to thee, and let me hear."
Then said the Eastman: "These birds are like to be
fetches of men: but thy wife sickens now, and she will give birth to a
woman-child fair and lovely; and dearly thou wilt love her; but high-born men
shall woo thy daughter, coming from such quarters as the eagles seemed to fly
from, and shall love her with overweening love, and shall fight about her, and
both lose their lives thereby. And thereafter a third man, from the quarter
whence came the falcon, shall woo her, and to that man shall she be wedded.
Now, I have unravelled thy dream, and I think things will befall as I have
said."
Thorstein answered: "In evil and unfriendly wise is the
dream interpreted, nor do I deem thee fit for the work of unriddling
dreams."
Then Eastman said, "Thou shalt find how it will come to
pass."
But Thorstein estranged himself from the Eastman
thenceforward, and he left that summer, and now he is out of the tale.
----------------------
From: THE STORY/SAGA OF GUNNLAUG THE WORM-TONGUE AND RAVEN THE SKALD
Translated
From The Icelandic EIRIKR MAGNUSSON & WILLIAM MORRIS
ISBN:
978-1-907256-80-6
NOTE: Only available in PDF eBook format – for now.
Click on the URL for
more info, a table of contents and to order in USD or GBP.
A percentage of the profits from the sale of this book will
be donated to UNICEF.
No comments:
Post a Comment