Laxdæla Saga | Page 5

Helgi "Bjolan," her brothers, and they came with many
followers. There came Koll o' Dales, her kinsman-in-law, and Hord of
Hord-Dale, and many other great men. The wedding feast was very
crowded; yet there did not come nearly so many as Unn had asked,
because the Islefirth people had such a long way to come. Old age fell
now fast upon Unn, so that she did not get up till mid-day, and went
early to bed. No one did she allow to come to her for advice between
the time she went to sleep at night and the time she was aroused, and
she was very angry if any one asked how it fared with her strength. On
this day Unn slept somewhat late; yet she was on foot when the guests
came, and went to meet them and greeted her kinsfolk and friends with
great courtesy, and said they had shown their affection to her in
"coming hither from so far, and I specially name for this Bjorn and
Helgi, but I wish to thank you all who are here assembled." After that
Unn went into the hall and a great company with her, and when all
seats were taken in the hall, every one was much struck by the
lordliness of the feast. Then Unn said: "Bjorn and Helgi, my brothers,
and all my other kindred and friends, I call witnesses to this, that this
dwelling with all its belongings that you now see before you, I give into
the hands of my kinsman, Olaf, to own and to manage." [Sidenote:
Unn's death] After that Unn stood up and said she would go to the
bower where she was wont to sleep, but bade every one have for
pastime whatever was most to his mind, and that ale should be the
cheer of the common folk. So the tale goes, that Unn was a woman
both tall and portly. She walked at a quick step out along the hall, and
people could not help saying to each other how stately the lady was yet.
They feasted that evening till they thought it time to go to bed. But the
day after Olaf went to the sleeping bower of Unn, his grandmother, and
when he came into the chamber there was Unn sitting up against her
pillow, and she was dead. Olaf went into the hall after that and told
these tidings. Every one thought it a wonderful thing, how Unn had
upheld her dignity to the day of her death. So they now drank together
Olaf's wedding and Unn's funeral honours, and the last day of the feast

Unn was carried to the howe (burial mound) that was made for her. She
was laid in a ship in the cairn, and much treasure with her, and after
that the cairn was closed up. Then Olaf "Feilan" took over the
household of Hvamm and all charge of the wealth there, by the advice
of his kinsmen who were there. When the feast came to an end Olaf
gave lordly gifts to the men most held in honour before they went away.
Olaf became a mighty man and a great chieftain. He lived at Hvamm to
old age. [Sidenote: Olaf's children] The children of Olaf and Alfdis
were Thord Yeller, who married Hrodny, daughter of Midfirth Skeggi;
and their sons were, Eyjolf the Grey, Thorarin Fylsenni, and Thorkell
Kuggi. One daughter of Olaf Feilan was Thora, whom Thorstein
Cod-biter, son of Thorolf Most-Beard, had for wife; their sons were
Bork the Stout, and Thorgrim, father of Snori the Priest. Helga was
another daughter of Olaf; she was the wife of Gunnar Hlifarson; their
daughter was Jofrid, whom Thorodd, son of Tongue-Odd, had for wife,
and afterwards Thorstein, Egil's son. Thorunn was the name of yet one
of his daughters. She was the wife of Herstein, son of Thorkell
Blund-Ketill's son. Thordis was the name of a third daughter of Olaf:
she was the wife of Thorarin, the Speaker-at-Law, brother of Ragi. At
that time, when Olaf was living at Hvamm, Koll o' Dales, his
brother-in-law, fell ill and died. Hoskuld, the son of Koll, was young at
the time of his father's death: he was fulfilled of wits before the tale of
his years. Hoskuld was a hopeful man, and well made of body. He took
over his father's goods and household. The homestead where Koll lived
was named after him, being afterwards called Hoskuldstead. Hoskuld
was soon in his householding blessed with friends, for that many
supports stood thereunder, both kinsmen and friends whom Koll had
gathered round him. [Sidenote: Thorgerd's second marriage] Thorgerd,
Thorstein's daughter, the mother of Hoskuld, was still a young woman
and most goodly; she did not care for Iceland after the death of Koll.
She