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60 THE VIKING PERIOt)
all kinds of amusements, such as dancing, wrestling and
story-telling. . . . Hrolfr of Skalmarnes told a story about
Hrongvithr the Viking, and Olaf
’
the sailor’s king,’ and
about the rifling of the barrow of Thrainn the berserkr,
and about Hr6mundr Gripsson, and he included many
verses in his story. King Sverrir used to be entertained
with this story, and he declared that fictitious stories like
these were the most entertaining of any ; and yet there are
men who can trace their ancestry to Hr6mundr Gripsson.
Hr61fr had put this saga together. Ingimundr the priest
told the story of Ormr, the poet of Barrey and included
many verses in it, besides a good poem which Ingimundr
had composed, therefore many learned men regard this
saga as true." 1
The former of these stories is the Rrdmundra Saga which
belongs to the class commonly called Fornaldaf SSgur.*
Still further back in the reign of Harald Hardradith (1047-
1066) we have a most important allusion to the art of story-
telling. According to the saga
3
a young Icelander came one
summer to King Harald seeking his protection. The king
received him into his court on the understanding that he
should entertain the household during the winter. He soon
became very popular, and received gifts from members
of the household and from the king himself. Just before
Christmas the king noticed that the Icelander seemed
dejected, and he asked the reason. The Icelander replied
that it was because of his
’
uncertain temper.’
"
That is not so," said the king. ..." I think your stock
of sagas must be exhausted, because you have entertained
us all through the winter, whenever you were called upon
1
Thorgil’s Saga ok Haflitha (Sturlunga Saga, Vol. I., p. 19).
*Fornaldar Sogur, Vol. II., p. 323.
3
Harald’s TIardrada Saga, ch. 99 (Fornmanna Sogur, VI., pp.
354-356).
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