WEDDING FEASTS. 21 



" The women sat on the cross-bench ; Helga fagra (the fair) 

 sat next to the bride, and her eyes often glanced at Gunnlaug. 

 and there the saying was proved that ' the eyes do not hide it 

 if a woman loves a man.' Gunnlaug was then well dressed, and 

 wore the fine clothes which King Sigtrygg gave him ; he was 

 thought greatly superior to other men, both in strength, beauty, 

 and stature " (Gunnlaug Ormstunga c. ii.). 1 



We find that during the feast the bride was seated between 

 the bridesmen and bridesmaids, a custom that has come down 

 to this day ; the linfe was then presented to her as she sat 

 under the bridal linen. 



" Then he (the bridegroom) shall sit between the bridesmen, 

 and she between the bridesmaids. He shall walk across the 

 floor and give her linfe. That is lawful whether the gift is 

 small or great" (N. G. L., ii. 305, King Magnus' Laws). 



It was the custom to offer to the bride a bekkjar-gjof (bench- 

 gift) while she sat on the bridal bench. 



Kjartan Olafsson, a famous Icelandic champion, was taking 

 leave of Ingibjorg, the sister of King Olaf Tryggvason, as he 

 was going to Iceland. 



" At this moment Ingibjorg opened a mead-cask standing 

 at her side, and took out of it a white and gold woven woman's 

 head-gear, which she gave to Kjartan, saying it would be only 

 too good for Gudriin Osvifr's daughter to wrap around her 

 head ; ' and thou wilt give it to her as a bench-gift. I want the 

 Icelandic women to see that she who has been talking with 

 thee in Norway is not of thrall-kin. It was in a bag of gudvef* 

 and was most costly " (Laxdaela, c. 43). 



When Olaf Tryggvason kept his wedding-feast with Thyri 

 of Denmark, he asked her whether he should choose a bench- 

 gift befitting a maiden or a woman who has been married. 

 She answered that he should do what seemed to him most 

 beseeming for himself and her. He was pleased' with her 

 answer, and at once sent her a woman's cloak with very fine 

 furs and beautifully ornamented. 3 



We see not only how particular people were in regard to 

 precedence, but how jealously wives guarded the reputation of 

 their husbands. 



1 Cf. also Hamsa Thnri's Saga, c. 12. 



2 Costly woven stuff. 



3 Cf. Fornmanna Sb'gur, ii. 133; Lax- 

 daela, 69; Gunnlaug Ormstunga, ch. ii. 



