22 MAEEIAGE. 



" The chief Gudmuml Riki (the powerful) was present at the 

 wedding-feast of his overseer Thorstein ; he sat in the high- 

 seat, Thorir Helgason (a chief) opposite to him, and the women 

 on the cross-bench ; bright lights were burning, and tables 

 were placed in front. The bride sat on the middle of the cross- 

 bench, with Thorlaug (wife of Gudmund) on the one side, 

 and Geirlaug (wife of Thorir Helgason) on the other. A woman 

 went with water to the cross-bench, having a cloth on her 

 shoulder, and first went to Geirlaug because she had been 

 with her the previous winter. Geirlaug said : ' Thou actest 

 with goodwill, but in a thoughtless way ; carry the water 

 first to Thorlaug.' She did so. Thorlaug beckoned it away 

 with the back of her hand, saying : ' Too much trouble is taken, 

 Geirlaug, for the woman is right ; there is no jealousy in my 

 mind at this ; it is not certain that any other woman is of 

 higher rank in the district than thou.' Geirlaug answered : 

 ' The trouble is little, Thorlaug ; but if thou hast the ambition 

 to be most honoured, I have nothing equal to thee, except my 

 marriage.' Thorlaug replied : ' Certainly I think thee well 

 married, though I do not now know another who is better 

 married than I.' Geirlaug added : ' Thou wouldst be well 

 married, if thy husband were said by all to be courageous or 

 valiant.' Thorlaug replied : ' This is wickedly spoken, and 

 thou art the first to say it.' Geirlaug replied : ' It is true, for 

 many others say it ; but Thorkel Hak said it first, and my 

 husband Thorir and every man who can move his tongue says 

 it.' Thorlaug said : ' Bring the water hither, woman, and let 

 us end this talk " (Ljosvetninga Saga, c. 13). 



" The famous champion Gunuar of Hlidarendi was to have 

 his wedding, and had invited to the feast many people. He 

 placed his guests as follows. He sat himself in the middle of 

 the bench ; and to the right of him was Thrain Sigfiisson, Ulf 

 Aurgodi, Valgard the grey, JVIord, Bunolf, the sons of Sigiiis, 

 and innermost Larnbi. Next to Guunar on the other side sat 

 Njul, then Skarphedin, Helgi, Grim, Hoskuld, Hair the wise, 

 Ingjald from Keldur, and the sons of Thorir from Holt. 

 Thorir wanted to sit outside all the men of distinction. . . . 

 Hoskuld was in the middle of the other bench, and his sons 

 inside to the left of him ; But sat outside to the right of 

 Hoskuld ; it is not said how the others were placed. The 

 bride, Hallgerd, sat in the middle of the cross-bench with her 

 daughter Thorgerd on one side, and on the other Thorhalla, 

 daughter of Asgrim Ellidagrimsson " (Njala, c. 34). l 



The man, as the guardian of his wife, had to manage their 



1 Cf. Hamsa Thori's Saga, c. 12. 



