Chapter 1 - Of Kveldulf and his sons.

There was a man named Ulf, son of Bjalf, and Hallbera, daughter of Ulf the fearless; she was sister of Hallbjorn Half-giant in Hrafnista, and he the father of Kettle Hćing. Ulf was a man so tall and strong that none could match him, and in his youth he roved the seas as a freebooter. In fellowship with him was one Kari of Berdla, a man of renown for strength and daring; he was a Berserk. Ulf and he had one common purse, and were the dearest friends.

But when they gave up freebooting, Kari went to his estate at Berdla, being a man of great wealth. Three children had Kari, one son named Eyvind Lambi, another Aulvir Hnuf, and a daughter Salbjorg, who was a most beautiful woman of a noble spirit. Her did Ulf take to wife, and then he too went to his estates. Wealthy he was both in lands and chattels; he took baron's rank as his forefathers had done, and became a great man. It was told of Ulf that he was a great householder; it was his wont to rise up early, and then go round among his labourers or where his smiths were, and to overlook his stalk and fields, and at times he would talk with such as needed his counsel, and good counsel he could give in all things, for he was very wise. But everyday as evening drew on he became sullen, so that few could come to speak with him. He was an evening sleeper, and it was commonly said that he was very shape strong. He was called Kveldulf.

Kveldulf and his wife had two sons, the elder was named Thorolf, the younger Grim; these, when they grew up, were both tall men and strong, as was their father. But Thorolf was most comely as well as doughty, favoring his mother's kin; very cheery was he, liberal, impetuous in everything, a good trader, winning the hearts of all men. Grim was swarthy, ill-favoured, like his father both in face and mind; he became a good man of business; skilful was he in wood and iron, an excellent smith. In the winter he often went to the herring fishing, and with him many house-carles.

But when Thorolf was twenty years old, then he made him ready to go a harrying. Kveldulf gave him a long-ship, and Kari of Berdla's sons, Eyvind and Aulvir, resolved to go on that voyage, taking a large force and another long-ship; and they roved the seas in the summer, and got them wealth, and had a large booty to divide. For several summers they were out roving, but stayed at home in winter with their fathers. Thorolf brought home many costly things, and took them to his father and mother; thus they were well-to-do both for possessions and honour. Kveldulf was now well stricken in years, and his sons were grown men.

 



1. kafli - Af Kveld-Úlfi búanda.

Úlfr hét mađr, sonr Bjálfa ok Hallberu, dóttur Úlfs ins óarga. Hon var systir Hallbjarnar hálftrölls í Hrafnistu, föđur Ketils hćngs. Úlfr var mađr svá mikill ok sterkr, at eigi váru hans jafningjar. En er hann var á unga aldri, lá hann í víkingu ok herjađi. Međ honum var í félagsskap sá mađr, er kallađr var Berđlu-Kári, göfugr mađr ok inn mesti afreksmađr at afli ok árćđi. Hann var berserkr. Ţeir Úlfr áttu einn sjóđ báđir, ok var međ ţeim in kćrsta vinátta.

En er ţeir réđust ór hernađi, fór Kári til bús síns í Berđlu. Hann var mađr stórauđigr. Kári átti ţrjú börn. Hét sonr hans Eyvindr lambi, annarr Ölvir hnúfa, dóttir hans hét Salbjörg. Hon var kvenna vćnst ok skörungr mikill. Hennar fekk Úlfr. Fór hann ţá ok til búa sinna. Úlfr var mađr auđigr bćđi at löndum ok lausum aurum. Hann tók lends manns rétt, svá sem haft höfđu langfeđgar hans, ok gerđist mađr ríkr.

Svá er sagt, at Úlfr var búsýslumađr mikill. Var ţat siđr hans at rísa upp árdegis ok ganga ţá um sýslur manna eđa ţar, er smiđir váru, ok sjá yfir fénađ sinn ok akra, en stundum var hann á tali viđ menn, ţá er ráđa hans ţurftu. Kunni hann til alls góđ ráđ at leggja, ţví at hann var forvitri. En dag hvern, er at kveldi leiđ, ţá gerđist hann styggr, svá at fáir menn máttu orđum viđ hann koma. Var hann kveldsvćfr. Ţat var mál manna, at hann vćri mjök hamrammr. Hann var kallađr Kveld-Úlfr.

Ţau Kveld-Úlfr áttu tvá sonu. Hét inn ellri Ţórólfr, en inn yngri Grímr. En er ţeir óxu upp, ţá váru ţeir báđir menn miklir ok sterkir, svá sem fađir ţeira var. Var Ţórólfr manna vćnstr ok gerviligastr. Hann var líkr móđurfrćndum sínum, gleđimađr mikill, örr ok ákafamađr mikill í öllu ok inn mesti kappsmađr. Var hann vinsćll af öllum mönnum. Grímr var svartr mađr ok ljótr, líkr feđr sínum bćđi yfirlits ok at skaplyndi. Gerđist hann umsýslumađr mikill. Hann var hagr mađr á tré ok járn ok gerđist inn mesti smiđr. Hann fór ok oft um vetrum í síldfiski međ lagnarskútu ok međ honum húskarlar margir.

En er Ţórólfr var á tvítugs aldri, ţá bjóst hann í hernađ. Fekk Kveld-Úlfr honum langskip. Til ţeirar ferđar réđust synir Berđlu-Kára, Eyvindr ok Ölvir, -ţeir höfđu liđ mikit ok annat langskip, - ok fóru um sumarit í víking ok öfluđu sér fjár ok höfđu hlutskipti mikit. Ţat var nökkur sumur, er ţeir lágu í víking, en váru heima um vetrum međ feđrum sínum. Hafđi Ţórólfr heim marga dýrgripi ok fćrđi föđur sínum ok móđur. Var ţá bćđi gott til fjár ok mannvirđingar. Kveld-Úlfr var ţá mjök á efra aldri, en synir hans váru rosknir.

 


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