TllK SPOKESMAN. II 



The suitor, even if present, had a spokesman who spoke on 

 his behalf, and enumerated his good qualities, deeds of valour, 

 &c., and other qualifications which might speak well for the 

 suit. If the suit was favourably received, a talk ensued iu 

 regard to the conditions of the marriage. 



Rut, a chief, went with his brother Hoskuld to the Althing, 

 and was told by him that he would like him to marry Uun, 

 the daughter of Mord Grigja. They went to his booth at the 

 place of the Althing, and after awhile Hoskuld said : 



"'I should like to make a bargain with thee ; Rut wants to buy 

 thy daughter, and become thy son-in-law, and I shall not spare 

 my property.' Mord answered : ' I know thou art a great chief, 

 but thy brother is unknown to me.' Hoskuld said : ' He is a 

 greater chief than I.' Mord added : ' Thou must furnish him 

 well, for she is the owner of all my inheritance.' ' Thou 

 iieedest not wait long for what I shall fix upon,' replied 

 Hoskuld ; ' he shall have Kambsnes and Rutstadir and the 

 land as far as Thrandargil ; he also has a trading ship on 

 voyages abroad.' Rut then said to Mord : ' You may think, 

 bondi, that my brother has spoken so highly of me because 

 he loves me, but if you will take the matter into considera- 

 tion I want you to state your conditions.' Mord answered : 

 ' I have thought of the conditions. She shall have 60 hundreds, 

 and it shall be increased with one-third from thy farm, but 

 if you have an heir each of you shall have the halt'.' Rut 

 said : ' These conditions I accept ; and now let us have 

 witnesses ' ' (Njala, c. 2). 1 



The qualities which the parents or guardians took most 

 into consideration were good birth, powerful and prominent 

 relatives. Families on both sides had to be well matched in 

 rank, wealth, and personal bravery, the last being highly prized 

 by the one whose hand was sought. 



" The kings (Ingibjorg's brothers) went to a feast at 

 Framnes 2 with Fridthjof, and, as usual, he treated them all 

 better than they were accustomed to be treated. Ingibjorg 

 was there, and often spoke with Fridthjof ; she said to him : 

 ' Thou hast a good gold ring.' ' That is true,' said Fridthjof. 

 Then the kings went home, and their envy against Fridthjof 

 increased. A little after Fridthjof became very sad ; J3jorn, 

 his foster-brother, asked why he was so ; he said he had it in 

 mind to ask Ingibjorg in marriage ; ' though I have lower 



1 Of. also c. 13, 98. | 2 Farm of Fridthj6f's father. 



I! 2 



