The story of Burnt Njal From the Icelandic of the Njals Saga

CHAPTER XX.

OF NJAL AND HIS CHIL­DREN.

There was a man whose name was Njal. He was the son of Thorgeir Gelling, the son of Thorolf. Njal's moth­er's name was As­ger­da. Njal dwelt at Bergth­orsknoll in the land-​isles; he had an­oth­er home­stead on Thorolfs­fell. Njal was wealthy in goods, and hand­some of face; no beard grew on his chin. He was so great a lawyer, that his match was not to be found. Wise too he was, and fore­know­ing and fore­sight­ed.[7] Of good coun­sel, and ready to give it, and all that he ad­vised men was sure to be the best for them to do. Gen­tle and gen­er­ous, he un­rav­elled ev­ery man's knot­ty points who came to see him about them. Bergth­ora was his wife's name; she was Skarphedinn's daugh­ter, a very high-​spir­it­ed, brave-​heart­ed wom­an, but some­what hard-​tem­pered. They had six chil­dren, three daugh­ters and three sons, and they all come af­ter­wards in­to this sto­ry.