Chapter 61 - Egil's life is given him.

King Eric sate upright while Egil recited the poem, and looked keenly at him. And when the song of praise was ended, then spake the king: 'Right well was the poem recited; and now, Arinbjorn, I have resolved about the cause between me and Egil, how it shall go. Thou hast pleaded Egil's cause with great eagerness, since thou offerest to risk a conflict with me. Now shall I for thy sake do what thou hast asked, letting Egil go from my land safe and unhurt. But thou, Egil, so order thy going that, after leaving my presence and this hall, thou never come before my eyes, nor my sons' eyes, nor be ever in the way of myself or my people. But I give thee now thy head this time for this reason, that thou camest freely into my power. I will do no dastardly deed on thee; yet know thou this for sure, that this is no reconciliation with me or my sons or any of our kin who wish to wreak their vengeance.'

Then sang Egil:

      'Loth am I in nowise,
      Though in features loathly,
      Helm-capt head in pardon
      From high king to take.
      Who can boast that ever
      Better gift he won him,
      From a lordly sovereign's
      Noble-minded son?'

Arinbjorn thanked the king with many fair words for the honour and friendship that he had shown him. Then they two, Arinbjorn and Egil, went back to Arinbjorn's house. After that Arinbjorn bade horses be made ready for his people. He rode away with Egil, and a hundred fully armed men with him. Arinbjorn rode with that force till they came to king Athelstan, where they were well received. The king asked Egil to remain with him, and inquired how it had gone between him and king Eric. Whereupon Egil sang:

      'Egil his eyes black-browed
      From Eric, raven's friend,
      Welcomed. Wise help therein
      Wife's loyal kin lent.
      My head, throne of helmet,
      An heritage noble,
      As erst, from rough rainstorm
      To rescue I knew.'

But at the parting of Arinbjorn and Egil, Egil gave Arinbjorn those two gold rings that king Athelstan had given him, whereof each weighed a mark. And Arinbjorn gave Egil the sword called Dragvandill. This had been given to Arinbjorn by Thorolf Skallagrimsson; but before that Skallagrim had received it from Thorolf his brother; but to Thorolf the sword was given by Grim Shaggy-skin, son of Kettle Hæing. Kettle Hæing had owned the sword and used it in his single combats, and no sword was there more biting. Egil and Arinbjorn parted with much affection. Arinbjorn went home to king Eric at York; but Egil's comrades and shipmates had good peace there, and disposed of their cargo under Arinbjorn's protection. But as winter wore on they moved south to England and joined Egil.

 



61. kafli - Lífgjöf Egils.

Eiríkr konungr sat uppréttr, meðan Egill kvað kvæðit, ok hvessti augun á hann. Ok er lokit var drápunni, þá mælti konungr:

"Bezta er kvæðit fram flutt, en nú hefi ek hugsat, Arinbjörn, um mál várt Egils, hvar koma skal. Þú hefir flutt mál Egils með ákafa miklum, er þú býðr at etja vandræðum við mik. Nú skal þat gera fyrir þínar sakar, sem þú hefir beðit, at Egill skal fara frá mínum fundi heill ok ósakaðr. En þú, Egill, hátta svá ferðum þínum, at síðan, er þú kemr frá mínum fundi af þessi stofu, þá kom þú aldregi í augsýn mér ok sonum mínum ok verð aldri fyrir mér né mínu liði. En ek gef þér nú höfuð þitt at sinni. Fyrir þá sök, er þú gekkt á mitt vald, þá vil ek eigi gera níðingsverk á þér, en vita skaltu þat til sanns, at þetta er engi sætt við mik né sonu mína ok enga frændr vára, þá sem réttar vilja reka."

Þá kvað Egill:

      Erumka leitt,
      þótt ljótr séi,
      hjalma klett
      af hilmi þiggja.
      Hvars sás gat
      af göfuglyndum
      æðri gjöf
      allvalds syni?

Arinbjörn þakkaði konungi með fögrum orðum þá sæmð ok vináttu, er konungr hefir veitt honum. Þá ganga þeir Arinbjörn ok Egill heim í garð Arinbjarnar. Síðan lét Arinbjörn búa reiðskjóta liði sínu. Reið hann brott með Agli ok hundrað manna alvápnaðra með honum. Arinbjörn reið með lið þat, til þess er þeir kómu til Aðalsteins konungs, ok fengu þar góðar viðtökur. Bauð konungr Agli með sér at vera ok spurði, hvernig farit hafði með þeim Eiríki konungi.

Þá kvað Egill:

      Svartbrúnum lét sjónum
      sannsparr Hugins varra,
      hugr tjóðum mjök mága,
      mögnuðr Egil fagna.
      Arfstóli knák Ála
      áttgöfguðum hattar
      fyr regnaðar regni
      ráða nú sem áðan.

En at skilnaði þeira Arinbjarnar ok Egils þá gaf Egill Arinbirni gullhringa þá tvá, er Aðalsteinn konungr gaf honum, ok stóð mörk hvárr, en Arinbjörn gaf Agli sverð þat, er Dragvandill hét. Þat hafði gefit Arinbirni Þórólfr Skalla-Grímsson, en áðr hafði Skalla-Grímr þegit af Þórólfi, bróður sínum, en Þórólfi gaf sverðit Grímr loðinkinni, sonr Ketils hængs. Þat sverð hafði átt Ketill hængr ok haft í hólmgöngum, ok var þat allra sverða bitrast. Skilðust þeir með kærleik inum mesta. Fór Arinbjörn heim í Jórvík til Eiríks konungs, en förunautar Egils ok skipverjar hans höfðu þar frið góðan ok vörðu varningi sínum í trausti Arinbjarnar. En er á leið vetrinn, fluttust þeir suðr til Englands ok fóru á fund Egils.

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