THE SCENE: Two boisterous Icelanders duel it out with both words and swords in this matter of honor.
THE TEXT: Gisli went to the island of Saxo with eleven men. Skegi had already arrive at the spot where the duel was to be fought. He announced the rules and marked out where Kolbjorn was to stand, but he could not see his opponent nor anyone to replace him.
There was a man named Ref, who worked for Skeggi as a carpenter. Skeggi asked him to make wooden effigies in the likeness of Gisli and Kolbjorn.
“And one will stand behind the other,” he said, and these figures of scorn will remain like that forever to mock them.”
Gisli, who was out in the woods, heard this and answered, “Find some better employment for your farmhands. Here is a man who dares to fight you.”
They took up their dueling positions and began to fight, each of them bearing a shield. Skeggi had a sword called Gunnlogi (War-flame) that rang loud in the air as it struck out at Gisli. Then Skeggi said,
“War-flame sang
Saxo is amused”
Gisli struck back with his halberd which sliced through the lower end of Skeggi’s shield and cut off his leg. Then Gisli spoke:
“Spear swept
I struck at Skeggi”
Skeggi bought his was out of the duel, and from that time he walked with a wooden leg.
– Gisli Sursson’s Saga, 13th Century AD
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