ng Olaf, and
the most beautiful of all the women who were at that time in the land.
Kjartan said, "Do not say such things, but bear my greeting to both my
kinsfolk and friends."

CHAP. XLII

Bolli makes love to Gudrun, A.D. 1000

After that Kjartan and Bolli parted, and Gizor and Hjalti sailed from
Norway and had a good journey, and came to the Westmen's Isles at the
time the Althing was sitting, and went from thence to the mainland,
and had there meetings and parleys with their kinsmen. [Sidenote:
Bolli goes to Laugar] Thereupon they went to the Althing and preached
the faith to the people in an harangue both long and telling, and then
all men in Iceland received the faith. Bolli rode from the Thing to
Herdholt in fellowship with his uncle Olaf, who received him with much
loving-kindness. Bolli rode to Laugar to disport himself after he had
been at home for a short time, and a good welcome he had there. Gudrun
asked very carefully about his journey and then about Kjartan. Bolli
answered right readily all Gudrun asked, and said there were no
tidings to tell of his journey. "But as to what concerns Kjartan there
are, in truth, the most excellent news to be told of his ways of life,
for he is in the king's bodyguard, and is there taken before every
other man; but I should not wonder if he did not care to have much to
do with this country for the next few winters to come." [Sidenote: He
talks with Gudrun] Gudrun then asked if there was any other reason for
it than the friendship between Kjartan and the king. Bolli then tells
what sort of way people were talking about the friendship of Kjartan
with Ingibjorg the king's sister, and said he could not help thinking
the king would sooner marry Ingibjorg to Kjartan than let him go away
if the choice lay between the two things. Gudrun said these were good
tidings, "but Kjartan would be fairly matched only if he got a good
wife." Then she let the talk drop all of a sudden and went away and
was very red in the face; but other people doubted if she really
thought these tidings as good as she gave out she thought they were.
Bolli remained at home in Herdholt all that summer, and had gained
much honour from his journey; all his kinsfolk and acquaintances set
great store by his valiant bearing; he had, moreover, brought home
with him a great deal of wealth. He would often go over to Laugar and
while away time talking to Gudrun. One day Bolli asked Gudrun what she
would answ