CHAPTEK XXV. 



SORKOW AND MOURNING. 



Egil's sorrow Egil's song The first song of Gudrun The second song of 

 Gudrun Halls draped with black and grey. 



THERE are several beautiful examples in Northern literature 

 showing how strong were the affections in the hearts of the 

 people, even among the bravest warriors. Conspicuous 

 amongst these examples are Egil's and Gudrun's songs of 

 sorrow, the former mourning the death of a son, the latter 

 that of a husband. 



" When Egil returned from his last journey to Norway and 

 Vermland, Bodvar, his son, was full grown. He was a most 

 promising man ; handsome, tall, and strong as Egil or Thorol 

 had been at his age. Egil loved him greatly, and Bodvar also 

 was fond of him. One summer a ship came into Hvita (white 

 river), where there was a large gathering for trade. Egil had 

 bought much wood there, and had it brought home. The 

 huskarls went in an eight-oared boat which Egil owned. 

 Bodvar begged to go with them, and this they granted him ; 

 he went to Vellir with the huskarls, who were six in number, 

 in an eight-oared boat. At the time fixed for their departure 

 the high tide was late in the day, so they waited for it and left 

 late in the evening. Then came a violent south-west gale, and 

 the ebb tide was opposed to it ; the sea rose high in the fjord, 

 as often happens there, and the boat was swamped in the heavy 

 sea, and all were drowned ; the bodies were thrown ashore the 

 next day. That of Bodvar came ashore in Einarsnes, but others 

 on the southern shore of the fjord, where the boat was driven, 

 and were found at Reykjarhamar. Egil heard of it the same 

 day, and forthwith rode to search for the bodies. He found that 

 of Bodvar outstretched : he took it up, and put it on his knee, 

 and rode with it out to Digranes to the mound of Skallagrim. 

 He had the mound opened, and laid Bodvar at the side of 

 Skallagrim, the mound was then closed, but this was not 

 done until sunset. Egil rode home to Borg (his farm), 



