Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - VIII. Literary Influence. The Sagas of Iceland and Ireland
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62 THE VIKING PERIOD
said :
"
You are too far off from a great entertainment."
Thormothr asked :
"
Where have you come from and
what is the entertainment ?
"
Egill replied :
"
I have been to Thorgrimr Einarsson’s
booth and most of the people who are attending the Thing
are there now."
Thormothr asked :
"
What form of amusement have
they ?
"
Egill answered :
"
Thorgrimr is telling a saga."
"
About whom is the saga ?
"
asked Thorm6thr.
"
That I do not know clearly," replied Egill,
"
but I
know that he tells it well and in an interesting manner. He
is sitting on a chair outside his booth and the people are all
around him listening to the saga."
Thormothr said :
"
But you must know the name of
some man who is mentioned in the saga, especially since
you think it so entertaining."
Egill replied :
"
A certain Thorgeirr was a great hero in
the saga, and I think that Thorgrimr himself must have
had some connection with it, and played a brave part in
it, as is most likely. I wish you would go there and listen
to the entertainment." 1
Then Thormothr and Egill went to Thorgrimr’s booth
and stood close by listening to the saga, but they could not
hear it very distinctly. Thormothr had, however, under-
stood from Egill’s remarks that this was the same
Thorgrimr who had slain his foster-brother and was now
recounting his exploits for the amusement of the crowd.
More famous is the scene in Njals Saga where Gunnar
Lambi’s son, who has just arrived at Earl Sigurthr’s palace
in the Orkneys is called upon to tell the story of the
burning of Njall’s homestead.
1
Foslbroethra Saga, ch. 23.
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