Medieval Icelandic Sagas
Eyrbyggja Saga
13th century, Old Norse.
He slew some men, and some fled away; but all those who died were seen in his company afterwards.
After the death of Thorolf Halt-foot many folk deemed it worse to be abroad as soon as the sun was getting low. But as the summer wore, men were ware of this, that Thorolf lay not quiet, and men might never be in peace abroad after sunset. And this happed withal that those oxen which had been yoked to Thorolf were troll-ridden, and all such cattle as came nigh to Thorolf’s howe went mad, and bellowed till they died.
The herdsman at Hvamm would often come home in a terrible state, claiming that Thorolf had chased him. And during the autumn, a day arrived when neither herdsman nor herd returned from the pastures and when men were sent out the next morning to look for them, they discovered the herdsman's body lying near to Thorolf's grave mound and it was black and every bone in it was broken.
Thereafter men fled away from the homestead, and now Thorolf took to walking so wide through the dale that he laid waste all steads therein, and so great was the trouble from his walking that he slew some men, and some fled away; but all those who died were seen in his company.
Story fragment retold from: Eyrbyggja Saga – Saga of the Ere-Dwellers. English translation, Online Medieval and Classical Library. XXXIV. Thorolf Halt-Foot Walks; The Second Burial of Him.
references
Sagas of Icelanders – Wikipedia
Eyrbyggja Saga – Wikipedia
Saga of the Ere-Dwellers – English translation, Online Medieval and Classical Library
Amazon
