The Story of Gunnlaug the Worm-Tongue and Raven the Skald

1875

Translated by Eiríkr Magnússon · Translated by William Morris

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"The Story of Gunnlaug the Worm-Tongue and Raven the Skald" by Anonymous is an Icelandic saga composed at the end of the 13th century. Two gifted poets fall in love with the same woman—Helga the Fair, granddaughter of the legendary Egill Skallagrímsson. When Gunnlaugr's travels abroad delay his return, his rival Hrafn seizes the opportunity to claim Helga's hand. What begins as poetic competition escalates into a bitter feud, drawing these skilled skalds toward an inevitable and deadly confrontation that will fulfill a prophetic dream.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.