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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 June 2021
In the early chapters of Egils saga Skallagrímssonar, Egill's father, uncle, and grandfather become wrapped up in King Haraldr hárfagri (fairhair) Hálfdanarson's ambition to unify all of Norway under his rule. King Haraldr wants these men to join his retinue because they are known to be strong and capable, but only Egill's uncle, Þórólfr, elects to go to the king. Things do not turn out well. Despite Þórólfr's loyalty, he and the king have a falling out and the king ends up killing Þórólfr in a fierce battle. Not to be discouraged – and likely to determine where lie the allegiances of Þórólfr's family – the king asks Egill's father, Skalla-Grímr, to join his retinue in his brother's stead. Skalla-Grímr responds thus (emphasis added):
“Þat var kunnigt, hversu miklu Þórólfr var framar en ek em at sér gërr um alla hluti, ok bar hann enga gæfu til at þjóna þér, konungr. Nú mun ek ekki taka þat ráð. Eigi mun ek þjóna þér, því at ek veit at ek mun eigi gæfu til bera at veita þér þá þjónustu, sem ek munda vilja ok vert væri. Hygg ek, at mér verði meiri muna vant en Þórólfi.”
(“It [is] well known how much more accomplished Þórólfr was than I am in all things, but he did not have the good-fortune to serve you [properly], king. Now I will not take that course. I will not serve you because I know that I will not have the good fortune to give you service as I would wish and as would be fitting. I think that I would fall short of many of Þórólfr's qualities.”)
Taken out of context, this passage might possibly be read as a polite, even humble refusal to serve the king: Skalla-Grímr appears to be saying that he is not worthy to serve the king and that he must decline the king’s offer because he could not do the king the service he deserves. Indeed, certain markers of politeness – such as the lowering of his own abilities beneath those of his brother's and the suggestion that the king deserves better – contribute to a sense that he is respectfully declining the king’s request. The king, however, is not impressed with Skalla-Grímr's mock politeness and takes the speech as a great insult, which it certainly is. The text states that the king grows silent and his face turns dreyrrauðan, bloodred.
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