s son,
had to wife. Their son was Brand, who founded the benefice of
Housefell. Gellir, Thorleik's son, took to him a wife, and married
Valgerd, daughter of Thorgils Arison of Reekness. Gellir went abroad,
and took service with King Magnus the Good, and had given him by the
king twelve ounces of gold and many goods besides. The sons of Gellir
were Thorkell and Thorgils, and a son of Thorgils was Ari the
"Deep-in-lore." The son of Ari was named Thorgils, and his son was Ari
the Strong. Now Gudrun began to grow very old, and lived in such
sorrow and grief as has lately been told. She was the first nun and
recluse in Iceland, and by all folk it is said that Gudrun was the
noblest of women of equal birth with her in this land. It is told how
once upon a time Bolli came to Holyfell, for Gudrun was always very
pleased when he came to see her, and how he sat by his mother for a
long time, and they talked of many things. [Sidenote: Bolli questions
his mother] Then Bolli said, "Will you tell me, mother, what I want
very much to know? Who is the man you have loved the most?" Gudrun
answered, "Thorkell was the mightiest man and the greatest chief, but
no man was more shapely or better endowed all round than Bolli. Thord,
son of Ingun, was the wisest of them all, and the greatest lawyer;
Thorvald I take no account of." Then said Bolli, "I clearly understand
that what you tell me shows how each of your husbands was endowed, but
you have not told me yet whom you loved the best. Now there is no need
for you to keep that hidden any longer." Gudrun answered, "You press
me hard, my son, for this, but if I must needs tell it to any one, you
are the one I should first choose thereto." Bolli bade her do so. Then
Gudrun said, "To him I was worst whom I loved best." "Now," answered
Bolli, "I think the whole truth is told," and said she had done well
to tell him what he so much had yearned to know. Gudrun grew to be a
very old woman, and some say she lost her sight. Gudrun died at
Holyfell, and there she rests. [Sidenote: The end of Gellir] Gellir,
Thorkell's son, lived at Holyfell to old age, and many things of much
account are told of him; he also comes into many Sagas, though but
little be told of him here. He built a church at Holyfell, a very
stately one, as Arnor, the Earls' poet, says in the funeral song which
he wrote about Gellir, wherein he uses clear words about that matter.
When Gellir was somewhat sunk into his latter age, he prepa