THE SCENE: Beauty comes in many forms, including occasionally a gnarled and bloodstained hand.
THE TEXT: She spoke: “Then I shall marry,” she said, “whoever brings me a fairer hand from plundering in the autumn.” Then they ended this discussion, and they both set our in plundering as usual, and Asmund took risks often with great danger for great reward and acquired thus treasure and fame, but Eyvind was often with the cooks, and did not let the glove go off his hand.
When autumn came, they both sought a meeting with the king’s daughter, each with his men. Eyvind went first, and asked the king’s daughter to look at his hands. Aesa the Fair said: “These hands have been well preserved, and are white and beautiful, and have not been stained with blood or made ugly by blows. Let us now see your hands, Asmund,” she said. He stretched forth his hand, and they were quite red and rather darkened from blood and the cuts of weapons, but when he pulled back his sleeves, they were laden with gold rings up to his shoulders.
Then the king’s daughter spoke: “It will be my decision, everything being considered, that Asmund’s hands are the most beautiful, and you, Eyvind, are denied this marriage.” Asmund said: “I will abide by your choice, my lady.”
– The Saga of Asmund Berserker-Slayer, Viks, 14th Century AD
