SORCERY. 401 



were thought to be born with the same gifts as the Volva ; l by 

 foretelling evil they had a great hold on the people, and 

 received good rewards for their knowledge. 2 



" A woman, by name Oddbjorg, went about the herad. She 

 was merry, wise and foreknowing. She made it a great point that 

 the housewives should receive her well, and she told favourable 

 things according to her entertainment. She came to Upsalir. 

 Saldis received her well, and asked her to foretell something 

 good about her boys. She said : ' These boys look promising 

 if they have luck, which I do not see.' Saldis said : ' I think 

 thou wilt not find the entertainment very good for this 

 taunt.' She answered : ' Thy entertainment will not depend 

 on this, and thou needest not be so' sensitive as to words.' 

 Saldis said : ' Little shalt thou say of it if thy mind does not 

 think it good.' She answered : ' I have not as yet said too much, 

 but I do not think their love to each other will last long.' 

 Saldis replied, 'I thought I deserved other words for the sake 

 of good entertainment, and thou wilt be driven away if thou 

 tellest evil foretel lings.' Oddbjorg said : 'I think I need not 

 spare thee as thou sayest this without reason ; I will not visit 

 thee again, and thou mayest bear this as well as thou wilt, but 

 I can tell thee that they will carry spears of death against each 

 other, and one thing after another, worse and worse, will be 

 caused by this in the herad ' " (Viga Glum, c. 12). 



" When Hakon, Pal's son, was in Sweden, he heard of a man 

 who practised sorcery and foretelling, whether he used for it 

 witchcraft or other things. He became very curious to see this 

 man, and know what he could tell about his fate. He went to 

 him, and at last found him in a district near the sea where he 

 received feasts and foretold seasons and other things to the 

 bondi. When he met him he asked how he would succeed 

 in getting the realm or other luck. The wizard asked 

 who he was, and he told his name and kin, that he was 

 a son of the daughter of Hakon, Ivar's son. The wizard 

 said : ' Why shouldst thou ask witchcraft or foretelling from 

 me ? Thou knowest that thy kinsmen little liked men of my 

 kind. It may be needful for thee to ask thy kinsman, Olaf the 

 Stout, in whom thou trustest fully, about thy fate, but 1 guess 

 that he will not condescend to tell thee what thou art anxious 

 to know, or is not so powerful as thou thinkest him.' Hakon 

 answered : ' I will not blame him, for I think it is rather 

 my unworthiness to learn wisdom from him than his in- 



1 Lardsela, 33; Njala, 127. . 2 Orkneyinga, 100, 102; Ljosvetninga, 



21 ; Vatnsdsela, 12; Orvar Odd, 2. 



VOL. I. 2 D 



