dressed the hearts of every
kind of beast which could be obtained there. She had a brass spoon, and
a knife with a handle of walrus tusk, with a double hasp of brass around
the haft, and from this the point was broken. And when the tables were
removed, Yeoman Thorkel approaches the prophetess Thorbiorg, and asks
how she is pleased with the home, and the character of the folk, and how
speedily she would be likely to become aware of that concerning which he
had questioned her, and which the people were anxious to know. She
replied that she could not give an opinion in this matter before the
morrow, after that she had slept there through the night. And on the
morrow, when the day was far spent, such preparations were made as were
necessary to enable her to accomplish her soothsaying. She bade them
bring her those women who knew the incantation which she required to
work her spells, and which she called Warlocks; but such women were not
to be found. Thereupon a search was made throughout the house, to see
whether anyone knew this [incantation]. Then says Gudrid, Thorbiorn's
daughter: "Although I am neither skilled in the black art nor a sibyl,
yet my foster-mother, Halldis, taught me in Iceland that spell-song,
which she called Warlocks." Thorbiorg answered: "Then art thou wise in
season!" Gudrid replies; "This is an incantation and ceremony of such a
kind that I do not mean to lend it any aid, for that I am a Christian
woman." Thorbiorg answers: "It might so be that thou couldst give thy
help to the company here, and still be no worse woman than before;
however, I leave it with Thorkel to provide for my needs." Thorkel now
so urged Gudrid that she said she must needs comply with his wishes. The
women then made a ring round about, while Thorbiorg sat up on the
spell-dais. Gudrid then sang the song, so sweet and well, that no one
remembered ever before to have heard the melody sung with so fair a
voice as this. The sorceress thanked her for the song, and said: "She
has indeed lured many spirits hither, who think it pleasant to hear
this song, those who were wont to forsake us hitherto and refuse to
submit themselves to us. Many things are now revealed to me, which
hitherto have been hidden, both from me and from others. And I am able
to announce that this period of famine will not endure longer, but the
season will mend as spring approaches. The visitation of disease, which
has been so long upon you, will disappear sooner than