There was a man named Olaf, son of Hauskuld Dale-koll’s son and Melkorka daughter of Myrkjartan
king of the Irish. Olaf dwelt at Hjardarholt in Lax-river-dale, westward in Broad-firth dales. Olaf was
very wealthy, the handsomest man in Iceland of his time, of a noble character. He asked to wife
Thorgerdr, Egil’s daughter. Thorgerdr was comely, tall above woman’s wont, wise, rather proud-
spirited, but in daily life gentle. Egil was well acquainted with Olaf, and knew that the match was a
worthy one, wherefore Thorgerdr was given to Olaf. She went home with him to Hjardarholt.

Auzur, Eyvind’s son, brother of Thorod in Olvos, had to wife Egil’s daughter Bera.

Chapter 81 - Death of Bodvar: Egil’s poem thereon.
Bodvar Egil’s son was just now growing up; he was a youth of great promise, handsome, tall and
strong as had been Egil or Thorolf at his age. Egil loved him dearly, and Bodvar was very fond of his
father. One summer it happened that there was a ship in White-river, and a great fair was held there.
Egil had there bought much wood, which he was having conveyed home by water: for this his house-
carles went, taking with them an eight-oared boat belonging to Egil. It chanced one time that Bodvar
begged to go with them, and they allowed him so to do. So he went into the field with the house-
carles. They were six in all on the eight-oared boat. And when they had to go out again, high-water
was late in the day, and, as they must needs wait for the turn of tide, they did not start till late in the
evening. Then came on a violent south-west gale, against which ran the stream of the ebb. This made a
rough sea in the firth, as can often happen. The end was that the boat sank under them, and all were
lost. The next day the bodies were cast up: Bodvar’s body came on shore at Einars-ness, but some
came in on the south shore of the firth, whither also the boat was driven, being found far in near
Reykjarhamar.

Egil heard these tidings that same day, and at once rode to seek the bodies: he found Bodvar’s, took it
up and set it on his knees, and rode with it out to Digra-ness, to Skallagrim’s mound. Then he had the
mound opened, and laid Bodvar down there by Skallagrim. After which the mound was closed again;
this task was not finished till about nightfall. Egil then rode home to Borg, and, when he came home,
he went at once to the locked bed-closet in which he was wont to sleep. He lay down, and shut himself
in, none daring to crave speech of him.

It is said that when they laid Bodvar in earth Egil was thus dressed: his hose were tight-fitting to his
legs, he wore a red kirtle of fustian, closely-fitting, and laced at the sides: but they say that his muscles
so swelled with his exertion that the kirtle was rent off him, as were also the hose.

On the next day Egil still did not open the bed-closet: he had no meat or drink: there he lay for that day
and the following night, no man daring to speak with him. But on the third morning, as soon as it was
light, Asgerdr had a man set on horseback, who rode as hard as he could westwards to Hjardarholt,
and told Thorgerdr all these tidings; it was about nones when he got there. He said also that Asgerdr
had sent her word to come without delay southwards to Borg. Thorgerdr at once bade them saddle her
a horse, and two men attended her. They rode that evening and through the night till they came to
Borg. Thorgerdr went at once into the hall. Asgerdr greeted her, and asked whether they had eaten
supper. Thorgerdr said aloud, ’No supper have I had, and none will I have till I sup with Freyja. I can
do no better than does my father: I will not overlive my father and brother.’ She then went to the bed-
closet and called, ’Father, open the door! I will that we both travel the same road.’ Egil undid the lock.
Thorgerdr stepped up into the bed-closet, and locked the door again, and lay down on another bed that
was there.