Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/190

 i 5 4 Readings 'in European History " 'I 'hen thou wilt never come back to us," says the king. " Fate will settle that, Lord," says Gunnar. Gunnar gave the king a good long-ship, and much goods besides, and the king gave him a robe of honor and golden- seamed gloves, and a fillet with a knot of gold on it, and a Russian hat. woos [On his return to Iceland Gunnar visited the Althing, the Haligerda. annual general assembly of the people.] It happened one day that Gunnar went away from the Hill of Laws and passed by the booths of the men from Mossfell; then he saw a woman coming to meet him, and she was in goodly attire; but when they met she spoke to Gunnar at once. He took her greeting well, and asked what woman she might be. She told him that her name was Haligerda, and said that she was the daughter of Hauskuld, Dalakoll's son. She spoke up boldly to him, and bade him tell her of his voyages ; and he said that he would not gainsay her a talk. Then they sat them down and talked. She was so clad that she had on a red kirtle, and had thrown over her a scarlet cloak trimmed with needlework down to the waist. Her hair came down to her bosom, and was both fair and full. Gunnar was clad in the scarlet clothes which King Harold, Gorm's son, had given him ; he had also the golden ring on his arm which Earl Hacon had given him. So they talked long out loud, and at last it came about that he asked whether she were unmarried. She said, so it was, " and there are not many that would run the risk of that." " Thinkest thou none good enough for thee ? " " Not that," she says, " but I am said to be hard to please in hus- bands." " How wouldst thou answer were I to ask for thee ? " "That cannot be in thy mind," she says. "It is, though," says he. " If thou hast any mind that way, go and sec my father." After that they broke off their talk. 1 1 Haligerda proved to he a wicked and altogether heartless woman, who finally brought (limii.ii, whom she marries, to his death by ietus ing to give him ;i lock of her beautiful hair to replace his bowstring when he was hard beset by his enemies.