IHVISIOX (>r 1'ItOl'h'HTY. 



53 



away with all his men to Hiinaland to Humli, his mother's 

 father, and told him that his brother Angantyr had offered him 

 a third of the realm. Humli heard all they had spoken, and 

 was very angry that his daughter's son Hlod should be called 

 the son of a bondwoman. He said : 



We shall sit this winter 



And live happily, 



Drain and talk over 



The costly drink, 



Teach the Hunar 



To make their weapons ready 



Which we boldly 



Shall bear forth. 



Well shall we, Hlod, 

 Dress the warriors 

 And strongly 

 Press the shields ; 

 Twelve-winters-old men, 

 And two-winters-old horses, 

 Thus shall the host 

 Of the Hunar be gathered." 



(Hervarar Saga, c. 16, 17.) 



Property was divided also by mutual arrangement. 



"Now that season passed and the moving days came. 

 Thorkel told Gisli that he wanted to have all the property 

 divided between them, and begin joint housekeeping with 

 Thorgrim, his brother-in-law. Gisli said : 'It is best to see 

 the property of brothers together, brother ; and I should be 

 thankful if we did not divide.' Thorkel answered : ' I saw 

 long ago that we are unequally kept, as thou toilest night and 

 day for our household, while I am good for nothing.' Gisli 

 replied : ' I am well content, and would willingly let it be 

 thus.' But Thorkel would listen to nothing but division, and 

 said : ' Thou shalt get the homestead in the division, and our 

 lather's estate, because I ask for the division, but I will take 

 the loose property.' Gisli said : ' We have tried both to agree 

 and to disagree, kinsman, and both of us have succeeded better 

 when we agreed ; let us not change this, brother, when we 

 agree well.' ' It is of no use talking of it,' said Thorkel ; ' the 

 property must be divided.' ' Then do whichever thou likest,' 

 said Gisli ; ' divide or choose ; for I do not care which I do.' 

 ' Then I want thee to divide/ said Thorkel ; and it was done. 

 Thorkel chose the loose property, which was more than the 

 land which Gisli got. There were two children to be sup- 

 ported by it, a boy Geirmund and a girl Gudrid ; the children 

 of their kinsman Ingjald. Gudrid went with Gisli, and 

 Geirmund with Thorkel. Thorkel went to his brother-in-law 

 Thorgrim and lived with him ; Gisli remained at H61, and did 

 not find that the household was worse than before " l (Gisli 

 Sursson's Saga, p. 100). 



1 Of. also Hervarar Saga, c. 16. 



