THE SCENE: After Grettir the Strong accidentally burned down a hut with several people inside, the Norwegian king was understandably upset. To clear his name, Grettir agrees to undergo a trial by ordeal. Unfortunately, his temper gets in the way again, and more misfortune follows.
THE TEXT: King Olfas said, “We will grant you leave to carry hot iron to prove your case, if Providence deems it so.”
Grettir was pleased with the idea. He started fasting to prepare himself to carry the iron and the day of the ordeal arrived. The king went to church with the bishop and a large gathering, because many were curious to see Grettir, after all that had been told about him. Then Grettir was brough to the church and when he entered many people there looked at him and said he was exceptional in strength and build.
As Grettir was walking down the aisle a young and quite ugly boy ran up to him and said, “What a strange custom in this country that call itself Christian, to allow evil-doers and bandits and thieves to go about in peace and undergo ordeals. What would an evil man do except try to save his own life for as long as he can? Here is now a criminal who has been proved responsible for evil deeds and burning innocent people alive in their houses, and he is being given the chance of an ordeal. This is an outrage.”
He went up to Grettir and made crude gestures, pulled faces and called him the son of a sea-troll and other rude names. Grettir flew into a rage, lost control of himself, raised his fist and boxed the boy on the ear, knocking him out cold; some people claim he was killed on the spot. Nobody seemed to know where the boy came from or what became of him, but the most common explanation is that he was an evil spirit sent to bring Grettir bad luck.
A great rumpus broke out in the church and the king was told that the man who was to carry the hot iron had started a brawl.
King Olaf went farther inside the church, saw what was going on and said, “You are an ill-fated man, Grettir. The ordeal that everything was ready for cannot take place now. Nothing can be done about your ill-fortune. You may go in peace as far as I am concerned and spend the winter wherever you want, but in the summer you will go to Iceland, because it is there you are ordained to rest your bones.”
– The Saga of Grettir the Strong, 14th Century AD
