Brands þáttr örva

It is said that one summer, there came to Norway from Iceland a man named Brand, son of Vermund of Vatnsfjord. He was called Brand the Generous, and that was considered a true nickname for him. Brand brought his ship into Nidaros. The poet Thjodolf was a friend of Brand’s and had said much to King Harald about him, what a great man of worth he was and accomplished in every way, and Thjodolf had said that it did not seem to him that any man in Iceland was better suited to a king than he, because of his generosity and his magnanimity. He had told the king many things about his liberality, and the king said: “That I will now test,” he said. “Go to him and ask him to give me his cloak.”

Thjodolf went and came into the booth where Brand was. He stood on the floor measuring cloth. He was wearing a scarlet tunic and had a scarlet cloak over him, with a headband tied upon his head. He had a gold-inlaid axe tucked under his arm.

Thjodolf said: “The king wishes to receive the cloak.” Brand continued with his work and said nothing, but he let the cloak slip off himself, and Thjodolf picked it up and carried it to the king. The king asked how matters had gone between them. He said that Brand had not spoken a word, and then described what he had been doing and also his attire.

The king said: “Surely this man is proud of bearing and will be a man of great quality, since he did not think words were needed for it. Go again and say that I wish to receive from him that gold-inlaid axe.”

Thjodolf said: “I am not eager, lord, to go again. I do not know how he will take it if I demand a weapon out of his hand.”

The king said: “You have raised talk about Brand, both now and before. Now you will go and say that I wish to receive the gold-inlaid axe. I will not consider him generous unless he gives it.”

Thjodolf then went to meet Brand and said that the king wished to receive the axe. He handed over the axe and said nothing. Thjodolf carried the axe to the king and told how it had gone.

The king said: “It is likely that this man will prove more generous than most, and he gives wealth now without restraint. Go again and say that I wish to have the tunic he is standing in.”

Thjodolf said: “It is not fitting, lord, that I go again.”

The king said: “You shall certainly go.”

He went again and came into the loft and said that the king wished to receive the tunic. Then Brand stopped his work and slipped off his tunic, saying nothing. He ripped off one sleeve and then threw the tunic away, but kept the other sleeve.

Thjodolf picked it up and went to the king and showed him the tunic. The king looked at it and then said: “This man is both wise and great-minded. It is clear to me why he tore off the sleeve. It seems to him that I own one hand, and that one only to receive always and never to give. Go now to him.”

And so it was done: Brand went to the king, and the king showed him great honor and gave him gifts. Thus, this was tested of him.