{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/gre/gre67.htm","path":"neu/gre/gre67.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/gre/gre67.htm","text":"Of the Death of Hallmund, Grettir's Friend.\nA LITTLE after Grettir had gone from Ernewater heath, there came a man thither, Grim by name, the son of the widow at Kropp. He had slain the son of Eid Skeggison of the Ridge, and had been outlawed therefor; he abode whereas Grettir had dwelt afore, and got much fish from the water. Hallmund took it ill that he had come in Grettir's stead, and was minded that he should have little good hap how much fish soever he caught.\nSo it chanced on a day that Grim had caught a hundred fish, and he bore them to his hut and hung them up outside, but the next morning when he came thereto they were all gone; that he deemed marvellous, and went to the water; and now he caught two hundred fish, went home and stored them up; and all went the same way, for they were all gone in the morning; and now he thought it hard to trace all to one spring. But the third day he caught three hundred fish, brought them home and watched over them from his shed, looking out through a hole in the door to see if aught might come anigh. Thus wore the night somewhat,\nand when the third part of the night was gone by, he heard one going along outside with heavy footfalls; and when he was ware thereof, he took an axe that he had, the sharpest of weapons, for he was fain to know what this one was about; and he saw that the new-comer had a great basket on his back. Now he set it down, and peered about, and saw no man abroad; he gropes about to the fishes, and deems he has got a good handful, and into the basket he scoops them one and all; then is the basket full, but the fishes were so big that Grim, thought that no horse might bear more. Now he takes them up and puts himself under the load, and at that very point of time, when he was about to stand upright, Grim ran out, and with both hands smote at his neck, so that the axe sank into the shoulder; thereat he turned off sharp, and set off running with the basket south over the mountain.\nGrim turned off after him, and was fain to know if he had got enough. They went south all the way to Balljokul, and there this man went into a cave; a bright fire burnt in the cave, and thereby sat a woman, great of growth, but shapely withal. Grim heard how she welcomed her father, and called him Hallmund. He cast down his burden heavily, and groaned aloud; she asked him why he was all covered with blood, but he answered and sang--\n\"Now know I aright,\n That in man's might,\n And in man s bliss,\n No trust there is;\n On the day of bale\n Shall all things fall;\n Courage is o'er,\n Luck mocks no more.\"\nShe asked him closely of their dealings, but he told her all even as it had befallen.\n\"Now shalt thou hearken,\" said he, \"for I shall tell of my deeds and sing a song thereon, and thou shalt cut it on a staff as I give it out.\"\nSo she did, and he sung Hallmund's song withal, wherein is this--\n\"When I drew adown\n The bridle brown\n Grettir's hard hold,\n Men deemed me bold;\n Long while looked then\n The brave of men\n In his hollow hands,\n The harm of lands.\n\"Then came the day\n Of Thorir's play\n On Ernelake-heath,\n When we from death\n Our life must gain;\n Alone we twain\n With eighty men\n Must needs play then.\n\"Good craft enow\n Did Grettir show\n On many a shield\n In that same field;\n Natheless I hear\n That my marks were\n The deepest still;\n The worst to fill.\n\"Those who were fain\n His back to gain\n Lost head and hand,\n Till of the band,\n From the Well-wharf-side,\n Must there abide\n Eighteen behind\n That none can find.\n\"With the giant's kin\n Have I oft raised din\n To the rock folk\n Have I dealt out stroke;\n Ill things could tell\n That I smote full well;\n The half-trolls know\n My baneful blow.\n\"Small gain in me\n Did the elf-folk see,\n Or the evil wights\n Who ride anights.\"\n* * *\nMany other deeds of his did Hallmund sing in that song, for he had fared through all the land.\nThen spake his daughter, \"A man of no slippery hand was that; nor was it unlike that this should hap, for in evil wise didst thou begin with him: and now what man will avenge thee?\"\nHallmund answered, \"It is not so sure to know how that may be; but, methinks, I know that Grettir would avenge me if he might come thereto; but no easy matter will it be\nto go against the luck of this man, for much greatness lies stored up for him.\"\nThereafter so much did Hallmund's might wane as the song wore, that well-nigh at one while it befell that the song was done and Hallmund dead; then she grew very sad and wept right sore. Then came Grim forth and bade her be of better cheer, \"For all must fare when they are fetched. This has been brought about by his own deed, for I could scarce look on while he robbed me.\"\nShe said he had much to say for it, \"For ill deed gains ill hap.\"\nNow as they talked she grew of better cheer, and Grim abode many nights in the cave, and got the song by heart, and things went smoothly betwixt them.\nGrim abode at Ernewaterheath all the winter after Hallmund's death, and thereafter came Thorkel Eyulfson to meet him on the Heath, and they fought together; but such was the end of their play that Grim might have his will of Thorkel's life, and slew him not. So Thorkel took him to him, and got him sent abroad and gave him many goods; and therein either was deemed to have done well to the other. Grim betook himself to seafaring, and a great tale is told of him.","title":"Chapter LXII: Of the Death of Hallmund, Grettir's Friend","type":"page"}