20 MAERIAGE. 



when it ended the chiefs were led away with gifts. Hrollaug 

 gave his daughter a dower of gold and silver and costly things ; 

 Vindland, which lies next to Beidgotaland, was also to follow 

 her as dower " (Hervara Saga, c. 14). 1 



The celebration of Kin<>- Olaf's wedding is thus related : 



Li \-SAtAjL O IT V^V.l.^.lilAi^ 



" Olaf had made preparations, with the best of all kinds 

 of drink and provisions that could be got. He had invited 

 many high-born men from the districts. When Eognvald 

 jarl arrived with his men, the king received him well, and 

 large, good, and well-furnished rooms were given to him ; the 

 servants took care that there should be lack of nothing which 

 might be proper for a feast. When the feast had lasted some 

 days, the king and the jarl and the king's daughter spoke 

 together ; it was agreed that Eognvald of Western Gautland 

 should betroth Astrid the daughter of Olaf, King of Sweden, to 

 Olaf, King of Norway, with the dower which they had before 

 agreed upon that her sister Ingigerd should have. The king 

 also was to give Astrid as much as he would have given to 

 her sister Ingigerd. Then the feast was made larger, and the 

 wedding of Olaf and Astrid was celebrated with great splen- 

 dour " (St. Olaf's Saga, c. 94). 



In sparsely-settled countries we find that a bondi was obliged 

 to shelter the bridal party. 



" A bondi shall feed at least five of them (the bridesmen and 

 bridesmaids). He is an outlaw if he refuses to lodge them. This 

 is if the bride or bridegroom are with them ; otherwise he must 

 feed three men " (Kristinrett Thorlaks og Ketils biskupa, p. 94). 



In the hall where the wedding-feast took place there were 

 bridal benches, which were probably kept in the family for 

 such an occasion ; just as to-day the bridal crowns are kept in 

 Norway. 



On one of the long benches the bridegroom was seated 

 with his men ; on the other, which was opposite, the father of 

 the bride and his male guests. On the cross-bench sat the 

 women, with the bride in the middle ; therefore this bench was 

 called brudbeJck (bride-bench). 



Sverting Hafr-Bjarnarson was going to marry Hungerd, 

 Thorodd's daughter, and invited Illugi the black, father of 

 Gunnlaug Ormstunga, and his sons to the wedding-feast. 



1 Cf. also Vatnsdaela Saga, c. 12 ; Ljosvetninga Saga, c. 13 ; Hervarar Saga, c. 10. 



