renowned of women." Olaf answered, "Ah, that is just a matter with
which I will have nothing to do. To you it is in no way less well
known, Bolli, than to me, what talk there was of the love between
Kjartan and Gudrun; but if you have set your heart very much on this,
I will put no hindrance in the way if you and Osvif settle the matter
between you. But have you said anything to Gudrun about it?" Bolli
said that he had once hinted at it, but that she had not given much
heed to it, "but I think, however, that Osvif will have most to say in
the matter." Olaf said Bolli could go about the business as it pleased
himself. Not very long after Bolli rode from home with Olaf's sons,
Halldor and Steinthor; there were twelve of them together. They rode
to Laugar, and Osvif and his sons gave them a good welcome. [Sidenote:
He is accepted] Bolli said he wished to speak to Osvif, and he set
forth his wooing, and asked for the hand of Gudrun, his daughter.
Osvif answered in this wise, "As you know, Bolli, Gudrun is a widow,
and has herself to answer for her, but, as for myself, I shall urge
this on." Osvif now went to see Gudrun, and told her that Bolli
Thorliekson had come there, "and has asked you in marriage; it is for
you now to give the answer to this matter. And herein I may speedily
make known my own will, which is, that Bolli will not be turned away
if my counsel shall avail." Gudrun answered, "You make a swift work of
looking into this matter; Bolli himself once bespoke it before me, and
I rather warded it off, and the same is still uppermost in my mind."
Osvif said, "Many a man will tell you that this is spoken more in
overweening pride than in wise forethought if you refuse such a man as
is Bolli. But as long as I am alive, I shall look out for you, my
children, in all affairs which I know better how to see through things
than you do." And as Osvif took such a strong view of the matter,
Gudrun, as far as she was concerned, would not give an utter refusal,
yet was most unwilling on all points. The sons of Osvif's urged the