need for you to bespeak such a thing, Bolli, for I cannot marry any man whilst I know Kjartan to be still alive.”  Bolli answered, “I think then you will have to abide husbandless for sundry winters if you are to wait for Kjartan; he might have chosen to give me some message concerning the matter if he set his heart at all greatly on it.”  Sundry words they gave and took, each at variance with the other.  Then Bolli rode home.

CHAP.  XLIII

Kjartan comes back to Iceland, A.D. 1001

A little after this Bolli talked to his uncle Olaf, and said, “It has come to this, uncle, that I have it in mind to settle down and marry, for I am now grown up to man’s estate.  In this matter I should like to have the assistance of your words and your backing-up, for most of the men hereabouts are such as will set much store by your words.”  Olaf replied, “Such is the case with most women, I am minded to think, that they would be fully well matched in you for a husband.  And I take it you have not broached this matter without first having made up your mind as to where you mean to come down.” [Sidenote:  Bolli proposes to Gudrun] Bolli said, “I shall not go beyond this countryside to woo myself a wife whilst there is such an goodly match so near at hand.  My will is to woo Gudrun, Osvif’s daughter, for she is now the most renowned of women.”  Olaf answered, “Ah, that is just a matter with which I will have nothing to do.  To you it is in no way less well known, Bolli, than to me, what talk there was of the love between Kjartan and Gudrun; but if you have set your heart very much on this, I will put no hindrance in the way if you and Osvif settle the matter between you.  But have you said anything to Gudrun about it?” Bolli said that he had once hinted at it, but that she had not given much heed to it, “but I think, however, that Osvif will have most to say in the matter.”  Olaf said Bolli could go about the business as it pleased himself.  Not very long after Bolli rode from home with Olaf’s sons, Halldor and Steinthor; there were twelve of them together.  They rode to Laugar, and Osvif and his sons gave them a good welcome. [Sidenote:  He is accepted] Bolli said he wished to speak to Osvif, and he set forth his wooing, and asked for the hand of Gudrun, his daughter.  Osvif answered in this wise, “As you know, Bolli, Gudrun is a widow, and has herself to answer for her, but, as for myself, I shall urge this on.”  Osvif now went to see Gudrun, and told her that Bolli Thorliekson had come there, “and has asked you in marriage; it is for you now to give the answer to this matter.  And herein I may speedily make known my own will, which is, that Bolli will not be turned away if my counsel shall avail.”  Gudrun answered, “You make a swift work of looking into this matter; Bolli himself once bespoke it before me, and I rather warded it off, and the same is still uppermost in my mind.”  Osvif said, “Many a man will tell you that this