296 DBMS OF MEN. 



tapestry, was so common that it is but seldom mentioned in 

 the Sagas. 



Laughed then Jormunrek, Shook his brown hair, 



Put his hand on his moustaches ; Looked on his white shield ; 



He did not want tumult, Let the golden cup 



Was drunk with wine ; Turn in his hand. 



(Hamdismal, 20.) 



After the burning of Njal, Skarphedin, his SOD, was found 

 dead. 



" He had been standing at the gable, and the greater part 

 of his legs were burnt up to his knees, but the rest of his body 

 was not burnt ; his eyes were open and not 

 swollen ; he had bitten his moustache, and had 

 struck with the axe so fast into the gable that 

 its blade went in as far as its middle, and there- 

 fore it was not softened " (Njala, c. 132). 



A peculiar story is related of Ogmund 

 Fig. 1155. Man Eytlijofsbani, a famous Viking, full of witchcraft 

 reverse of silver and devilry, who often fought against Orvarodd. 



coin with ship. 



" When Ogmund left Odd he went into 

 Austrveg (eastern lands) and married the daughter of Geirrod 

 the Jotun, and made all the kings in Austrveg pay tax to him ; 

 every twelve months they were to send him their lower and 

 upper moustache. From these Ogmund had a fur cloak 

 made " (Orvar Odd's Saga, c. 23). 



The men wore their hair long, hanging over their neck ; 

 their foreheads were ornamented with a gold band like a 

 diadem, and from the finds we learn that they parted their 

 hair in the middle. 



" Kjartan, Olaf's son, grew up at Hjardarholt ; he was the 

 handsomest of men born in Iceland. He had fine and marked 

 features in his face, with most beautiful eyes and fair com- 

 plexion ; he had much hair as fine as silk, which fell down in 

 locks. He was large and strong as his mother's father Egil 

 (Skallagrimsson), or Thorolf hail been. He was better shaped 

 than any man, so that all wondered who saw him; he also 

 fought better than most other men ; he was a good smith, and 

 swam better than any other man ; lie surpassed others greatly 

 in all idrottii ; he was better liked and more humble than any 



