Laxdæla Saga | Page 2

and another Helgi Bjolan. Thorunn the
Horned was the name of one of Ketill's daughters, who was the wife of
Helgi the Lean, son of Eyvind Eastman, and Rafarta, daughter of
Kjarval, the Irish king. Unn "the Deep-minded" was another of Ketill's
daughters, and was the wife of Olaf the White, son of Ingjald, who was
son of Frodi the Valiant, who was slain by the Svertlings. Jorunn,
"Men's Wit-breaker," was the name of yet another of Ketill's daughters.
She was the mother of Ketill the Finn, who settled on land at Kirkby.
His son was Asbjorn, father of Thorstein, father of Surt, the father of
Sighat the Speaker-at-Law.

CHAP. II
Ketill and his Sons prepare to leave Norway
[Sidenote: The tyranny of King Harald] In the latter days of Ketill arose
the power of King Harald the Fairhaired, in such a way that no folkland
king or other great men could thrive in the land unless he alone ruled
what title should be theirs. When Ketill heard that King Harald was
minded to put to him the same choice as to other men of might--namely,
not only to put up with his kinsmen being left unatoned, but to be made
himself a hireling to boot--he calls together a meeting of his kinsmen,
and began his speech in this wise: "You all know what dealings there
have been between me and King Harald, the which there is no need of
setting forth; for a greater need besets us, to wit, to take counsel as to
the troubles that now are in store for us. I have true news of King
Harald's enmity towards us, and to me it seems that we may abide no
trust from that quarter. [Sidenote: Ketill's speech] It seems to me that
there are two choices left us, either to fly the land or to be slaughtered
each in his own seat. Now, as for me, my will is rather to abide the
same death that my kinsmen suffer, but I would not lead you by my

wilfulness into so great a trouble, for I know the temper of my kinsmen
and friends, that ye would not desert me, even though it would be some
trial of manhood to follow me." Bjorn, the son of Ketill, answered: "I
will make known my wishes at once. I will follow the example of noble
men, and fly this land. For I deem myself no greater a man by abiding
at home the thralls of King Harald, that they may chase me away from
my own possessions, or that else I may have to come by utter death at
their hands." At this there was made a good cheer, and they all thought
it was spoken bravely. This counsel then was settled, that they should
leave the country, for the sons of Ketill urged it much, and no one
spoke against it. Bjorn and Helgi wished to go to Iceland, for they said
they had heard many pleasing news thereof. They had been told that
there was good land to be had there, and no need to pay money for it;
they said there was plenty of whale and salmon and other fishing all the
year round there. But Ketill said, "Into that fishing place I shall never
come in my old age." So Ketill then told his mind, saying his desire
was rather to go west over the sea, for there was a chance of getting a
good livelihood. He knew lands there wide about, for there he had
harried far and wide.

Chap. III
Ketill's Sons go to Iceland
[Sidenote: Of Bjorn in Iceland] After that Ketill made a great feast, and
at it he married his daughter Thorunn the Horned to Helgi the Lean, as
has been said before. After that Ketill arrayed his journey west over the
sea. Unn, his daughter, and many others of his relations went with him.
That same summer Ketill's sons went to Iceland with Helgi, their
brother-in-law. Bjorn, Ketill's son, brought his ship to the west coast of
Iceland, to Broadfirth, and sailed up the firth along the southern shore,
till he came to where a bay cuts into the land, and a high mountain
stood on the ness on the inner side of the bay, but an island lay a little
way off the land. Bjorn said that they should stay there for a while.
Bjorn then went on land with a few men, and wandered along the coast,
and but a narrow strip of land was there between fell and foreshore.

This spot he thought suitable for habitation. Bjorn found the pillars of
his temple washed up in a certain creek, and he thought that showed
where he ought to build his house. Afterwards Bjorn took for himself