FJ-:ASTS. 19 



and loose property against loose property,' and his property 

 valued also if it is more than hers. It cannot be broken if 

 thus made. 



" If they enter into partnership in another way, it may be 

 liroken, whether his heirs or hers want it, by going to a Thing 

 before they have been twenty winters together, and declaring 

 that the partnership is broken. If this is not done before 

 they have been twenty winters together, he (the husband) 

 can never change it thereafter. 



" Wherever husband and wife enter into partnership, they 

 shall declare it before many men. Now if they have lived 

 together twenty winters or more, they are partners according 

 to the laws, if they were not before. Then she owns a third of 

 the property, and he two-thirds. Though it (the partnership) 

 be made, if it is not made public during the twenty winters, it 

 is as if it had not been made " (Gulathing's Law, 53). 



Marriages were forbidden to the fifth degree of relationship. 



" It is a new law that marriage is not allowed nearer than 

 the fifth degree in the same degrees of relationship and kins- 

 manship. If they are both kinsmen in the fifth degree they 

 may marry if they like, but pay a larger tithe of all their 

 property " (Gragas, i. 308). 



The wedding feasts, at which the gods were invoked for 

 the happiness of the marriage, were often very splendid, and 

 guests, to whom presents were given, came from long dis- 

 tances. The length of the feasts varied according to the rank 

 and wealth of the family, and were so gorgeous that they 

 remained long in the memories of the people. 



The Irud-kaup, or wedding, was the fulfilment of the condi- 

 tions stipulated at the betrothal. 



" Sigmund 1 rode to Orradal, and visited Thorkel, and was 

 well received. He now began his wooing, and asked Thurid 

 in marriage. Thorkel took this well, and thought it a great 

 honour for his daughter and them all. Sigmund made his 

 wedding-feast at Hladir with Hakon jarl, and the jarl made it 

 last for seven nights " (Fsereyinga Saga, 26). 2 



" Heidrek married Herborg, the daughter of King Hrollaug 

 in Gardariki. Their wedding-feast was made, and no man had 

 heard of a greater feast in these lands ; it lasted a month ; 



1 This Sigmund is the famous cham- 

 pion of the Faroes. 



manna Sogur, iv. c. -_'4-i'i; ; Kurd's Saga, 

 c. 11. 



Cf. also Sturlung.n, i., c. 13 ; Forn- | 



c 2 



