The Orkneyinga Saga

🔖 This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 Excerpt: ...was promptly refused. Magnus then said: "There is yet one more offer which I will make, and God knows that I think more of your soul than of my own life, for it were better that you should do as I shall offer you than that you should take my life. Let me be maimed as you like, or deprived of my eyes, and throw me into a dark dungeon." Then said Earl Hakon: "This offer I accept, and I ask for no more." But the chiefs started up and said to Earl Hakon: "One of you will we kill now, and from this day you shall not both rule the lands of the Orkneys." Earl Hakon replied: "Slay him then, for I will rather have earldom and lands than instant death." Thus their conversation was related by Holdbodi, a truthful Bondi in the Sudreyar, who was one of the two of Earl Magnus's men who were with him when he was taken. CHAPTER XXXIX. THE BEHEADING OF EARL MAGNUS. The worthy Earl Magnus was as cheerful as if he were invited to a banquet, and spoke neither words of offence nor anger. After these words had passed, he fell on his knees to pray, hiding his face in his hands, and shedding many tears before God. Then, when the holy Earl Magnus was thus doomed to death, Hakon ordered his banner-bearer, Ofeig, to slay the Earl, but he refused, with the utmost wrath. Then forced he Lffolf, his cook, to be the slayer of Magnus, but he began to weep aloud. "Weep not thus," said Earl Magnus, "for this is an honourable task. Be firm, and you shall have my clothing, according to the custom and laws of the men of old. Be not afraid, for you do this against your will, and he who forces you sins more than you." When he had said this, he took off his tunic and gave it to Lffolf. Then he asked for permission to pray, which was grant...