The Legend Of Jon Asmundsson

Once upon a time there was a poor couple. They lived in Borgarfjord, and the man was called Asmund. They had many children, all of whom were still small. It is not said what the children's names were, only that the eldest boy Jon It was a difficult time in the country at that time. The farmer Asmund had to from house and farm, and the children were sent to different farms distributed to provide maintenance and education.

At that time there lived a priest in Reykjavik named Kristian; He took Jon Asmundsson as his foster son, and with him grew Jon was a handsome boy and stronger than his other peers; he was quiet by nature, spoke little and was very diligently. The priest loved him very much, and all the people on the farm liked him.

Then it happened one summer, as often happens, that a merchant ship Reykjavik arrived. There was a foreign merchant on board, but His name is not known. He was involved in a lot of trade, among other things also with the priest Kristian. Once, when the priest was outside the merchant's ship, the conversation turned to strong men. The merchant, who was tall and strong, went to a place where four sacks of rye were tied together, picked them up and promised the man three marks gold that would do the same for him, but it was There was no one there who dared to take part in this test of strength. When the When the pastor came home, he told his foster son, Jon Asmundsson, what the merchant had promised and asked him to try what he could not. Then the priest told the merchant that a man had come, who wanted to earn the money. The merchant then led Jon to where the grain sacks were lying. Jon took them and threw them on his shoulder, carried her back and forth on the deck and laid her back on the same Place down. Paid it. to leave, but while they said goodbye to the merchant, asked Jon to visit him before he sailed away, which Jon did promised. Success of her gang.

One day before the merchant continued, the pastor Jon recalled that he wanted to visit that. off, and the pastor accompanied him. and asked Jon to come into the cabin. The priest wanted Gone, but the merchant said that they did not do anything together The priest replied that it was not done to to cause a disturbance at their meeting, and the end was, that he followed them into the cabin. There the merchant said to them, that they were not finished with each other yet; because next summer he would bring a lad with whom Jon should wrestle, and If he remained victorious in the fight, he would receive ten marks in gold. Then They said goodbye to each other, and shortly afterwards the merchant sailed fort.

Now a time passed quietly. The following winter the priest asked Jon once asked if he remembered what the merchant had told him said goodbye; Jon replied that he rarely thought about it. the priest said that it would be best for them to think of a way out think; would not be a real human being, but one of the worst Moors, However, he, the priest, would find a way out for him; they would have to be ready when three weeks of summer have passed, because then the merchant would enter the harbor. Jon took this Nothing to heart.

When exactly three weeks of summer had passed, one day a ship from the sea and sailed up to Reykjavik. The priest went to Jon, told him what was to come, clothed him with a black woolen doublet and tied a belt around his body; Then he gave him a small, sharp dagger, which he in the wam sleeve He said that he could not think of hiding the to resist the Moor's grasp so that he can pull him over in the first gear would throw his head, but he promised to be careful that Jon to be on the feet, and then he should ask the Mohren, the loden coat, whom he was wearing, out, but meanwhile the Prepare a dagger to have it at hand when the Moor comes to Secondly, the ship had thrown on the ship, When a boat drops off the ship and a huge mipe, with dressed in a loden coat, was put on land. The priest and Jon stood on the flood knife at the bottom. grabbed him and swung him up, but Jon fell back to the feet. Then he asked the Moor to take off his flaxen coat, so that they could compete in wrestling. The Moor did so, Meanwhile Jon readied his dagger, and when the Moor rushed at him a second time, he ran up and stabbed him with the dagger In the body. The Moor would have treated him badly if his woolen doublet had not The end of their fight was that Jon had Mohren to the ground. Then he rowed with the priest to the ship and greeted the merchant. The priest said that Jon was now the Money would have been earned because the Moor remained lying on the battlefield but the merchant was extremely upset and said that she was a They had used deceit, but had not shown courage and boldness. The priest replied that in this case it was a case of equals, because it would not be a real human being that the merchant would invite to wrestle Finally, the merchant gave the money by he asked Jon to visit him again before he left the leave the country again.

Everything stayed with the old until the merchant wanted to continue; The priest reminded Jon that the merchant had a visit from asked him, and said that he would come along himself to to be present at their meeting. They went out to the ship and greeted the merchant, who returned the greeting and asked Jon to join him to go aside. on their heels. Then the merchant said that it was none of his business, what he and Jon had to discuss with each other; to which the Pastor that he had no intention of disturbing their conversation, he wanted but be near his husband. This time the merchant said that he wanted to bring a young dog with him next summer, where Jon he should measure his strength; Gold. Then they parted. The summer passed and a good Piece of winter without Jon talking about these things.

Then the pastor once asked him if he ever received the businessman's words Jon answered "No," but the priest said that the The arrival of the merchant next summer will not bring anything better than before; he would come sailing if half a month of the summer would be over, but the little dog, on which he remembered Jon his To measure strength is a big and fierce bloodhound, which is why they would have to try to think of some kind of ruse. Jon asked the Priest to think of these for him.

When half a month of summer had passed, a sea coming ship. The priest called Jon over and showed him the same black woolen doublet that he had had him put on the previous summer. The priest had wrapped it in thick ropes before he gave it back to him. Then he handed him an iron weapon, like a halberd shaped and with spikes at the top, then put a piece of meat and told Jon to hold it in his hand and try to to get close to the dog so that it snapped at the meat; then but he should thrust the iron into his throat. Then they went to the sea, and the ship had barely dropped anchor when the dog land. It was a big dog and looked fierce. Jon went to meet him, and he rushed at him with great ferocity and wanted to tear him to pieces, but the doublet protected him, so that he could not Jon avoided the dog's attacks as best he could and held the piece of meat in front of him, and finally it happened that the dog opened his mouth while Jon hit him with the gun with all his might. Force thrust into the throat and did not let up in the slightest, as No matter how great he behaved, because of his doublet the dog Jon could not do the slightest harm, and finally he lay dead on the square. Then they went out to the merchant and greeted him. He replied her greeting sullenly and was black and swollen in the face and concealed his anger as far as it was in his power. The priest said that Jon had now earned the money that the merchant had given him in promised last summer as a reward. But the merchant found that this was doubtful, since he used more cunning than bravery But the priest replied that this time the merchant was most shameful, as he had sent such a wild animal to them Then the merchant paid the money, asking him to to speak to him before he sails away this summer.

Then the time came when the merchant wanted to sail away, and the Pastor told Jon that he would remember the merchant’s words but that he wanted to accompany Jon to the meeting. They drove and met the merchant. He immediately asked Jon to go with him to go into the cabin. The priest wanted to follow, but the merchant said that he should stop, he had no business there. The But the pastor replied that Jon was his boy and that he had no step without him, the priest, accompanying him. Then the merchant followed, and all three went into the cabin. When they arrived there, the merchant took a book from a shelf down, opened it and took out a loose sheet, which he quickly moved back and forth in front of Jon's eyes, as if he did not want the priest should see it; but he managed to catch a glimpse of it to see without the merchant noticing. Then the merchant put the Leaf returned to his place and said that Jon would give him the next Summer should bring the book to which this sheet belongs, or the name of being a coward, but if he brought him the book, he would weigh out thirty marks of gold for him. Then They said goodbye to each other, and the priest and Jon returned home back, but the merchant immediately set sail.

When only one week of summer was left, Pastor Kristian spoke to Jon and asked him what he thought about the assignment the merchant had intended for him. Jon replied that he knew nothing about it The priest asked him if he knew what kind of paper that the merchant had shown him. But Jon answered »No.« Then the priest said that it was not strange if he did not know it; for it would be a page from the devil's handbook and now the merchant had given him the dangerous task to find it, but that was no fun. Then he said that he has a brother who is a priest in the underworld, and only he Jon would be able to help in this matter, the Devil's Handbook to find him, there would be no other way. Jon should Now get ready to go to the underworld, to visit his brother, and he would have to be there on the first day of winter come and stay there over the winter.

Now Jon got ready for the hike, and when everything was ready, The priest gave him a letter to his brother and a ball of yarn, that should show him the way; he wished him a happy hike and warned him many times not to get lost anywhere on his way to look around, and he would not be allowed to spend the whole winter in the underworld. speak a single word; but Jon said that it would be easy for him would.

Then Jon set out, threw the ball away, kept but the end of the thread in his hand. The ball rolled for quite some time ahead of him until he reached a mountain north of Reykjavik, where the opening of a cave was visible; there the ball rolled into the mountain, and he followed him. The passage inside was dark and uneven, and Jon began to have reservations about continuing the hike, but the more the ball of rope pulled, the more he regained his courage. So he walked a long way until it suddenly became light. Then he saw he saw a graceful plain before him, over which the ball of yarn rolled until he came to a large city with magnificent buildings. There stopped the ball at a door, whereupon Jon picked it up from the floor.

He knocked on the door and a young girl came out. It was good dressed, but without any pomp, modest in their manners, and the most beautiful maiden Jon had ever seen. Jon bowed to and handed her the letter, which she took silently. She also took the ball and went into the house with both of them. After a short A while later the same girl came out again, accompanied by a second one, who was younger; she looked at Jon and disappeared back into the house In the first girl. through a few corridors into a chamber in which a small table, a Bench, a chair and a bed stood; then she left, but immediately she brought him food and covered the table.

The rest can now be told: Jon stayed there for a long time and thought that it was already the middle of winter; he saw no other People as the same young girl who came to him every day and set the table and made the bed. They never spoke to each other, and He never heard human voices.

Then it happened one day that a handsome, tall and well-built man came in to him. That was the priest of the underworld, priest Kristian's brother. He was dressed in a long black robe; He said hello to Jon, and there was gentleness in his voice. Jon was silent. The pastor asked him if he knew how far time stepped up But Jon remained silent. Then the priest said: »You have done well, Jon, to persist in your silence; for this reason your mission has been successful, and you will be rewarded for your self-control be rewarded, but today is the first day of summer, and therefore you may you speak.« Jon was very happy about that. The priest said that he should now go home, and that he should not hesitate any longer because this time the merchant would come if a week of summer was over. Then the priest gave him a book and asked him to read it well To be guarded and bring it to his brother, but it wouldn't be long last until the owner missed it and fetched it, if it was only in the The merchant's hands would be. buy the whole cargo and have it brought to shore before he can The priest asked Jon to bring his brother a greeting, bid him farewell, but said that his daughter would take him on the way and show him how to find his way home. So girl came and put him on the way. who had provided him with a table and bed during the winter. They walked hand in hand with each other, but it is not said what they said together, until she suddenly stopped and said that she could not go any further but it would also be easy to walk the part of the way that is still She said that they must separate, even if it her heart would be heavy, because they could not stay together and have fun together, since he does not live in the underworld and she is not on earth. "But," she said, "I will not I will not tell you that I am with child, and I will send the child to you. Should it be a boy if it is six years old, but if it is A mädc will be when it is twelve years old; depends on whether you take the child in well.« After she had said that, she handed him the ball of yarn, but said that he did not need it to to find the way, he should only follow their instructions. Then they said goodbye because they were difficult for them He now went the way she had shown him; he was neither difficult nor dangerous, but he himself did not really know how and where he wandered between the two worlds. Towards the end of the first He arrived in Reykjavik in the summer week, where the priest welcomed him with joy received and found that he would have done his job well when Jon him brought his brother's greeting and gave him the book.

Shortly afterwards, the merchant sailed into the harbor, and the priest immediately paid him a visit; they exchanged with each other. The priest told the merchant that a bad year in the country and that a great shortage of food rules, which is why he asked him to sell him the ship's cargo; And they became trade in it before the end of three days entire cargo was brought ashore. When this was done, the Pastor and Jon out to the ship, and the merchant then asked Jon immediately how he had fared with his assignment. Jon replied that he was carried out. Set the book; saw that it was the right book. The priest asked him to give the money to pay off the money he had promised Jon, and the merchant did so also. Then they bade him farewell, and went down into their boat; But they had hardly reached land when the sea became very rough; Her eyes fell on the water where the ship was located, but there it disappeared and was never seen again.

Now there was great wealth in the parsonage. The next six months passed, And Jon stayed with the pastor. happened, but never like after he emerged from the underworld Then the priest once spoke to him about what He was missing, and said that he was suspecting why he was so taciturn; because his brother's daughter down there in the underworld would have liked it so much. But Jon didn't reply. Pastor Kristian had three daughters, but their names are not mentioned in this legend. not told. The priest said that he had told Jon the one of his daughters he wanted, if his mind would be Jon finally chose the youngest daughter as woman, and the priest married them. He gave the couple one of the best farms in the neighborhood to live in, and They moved there and set up their home. They lived in harmony with each other and had enough wealth. Nevertheless, Jon was quiet and sad.

Now many years passed and the spouses got many children Together. people were in the bathhouse. The farmer sent one of his sons, who who was six years old at the time, knocked on the door. When the boy came back in, he told them that there was a beautiful little girl outside who greeted him kindly and asked him to say that it was wanted to speak to his father. At these words, a Sunbeam over Jon's face, he rose immediately and went out. The little girl kissed him and greeted him with the name father, he But received it with great warmth and joy.

It told that it had been told by its mother, the pastor's daughter from the underworld, from which it brings him a loving greeting. Jon immediately led it to his wife, with whom he was of the origin of the Child spoke, and the great obligation he opposite him and asked her to be like a mother to it, as for her other children. little girl; she was twelve years old when this happened. It it was characterized by most of them by its great beauty and all sorts other virtues. When Sigrid spent three years with her father and in this time had been the subject of many award and love, asked She once asked him for permission to visit her mother, which he also kindly granted her, saying that she was with her mother It should be a whole year if she wanted.

The following year, Sigrid returned to her father, who also lovingly received as before.

She brought him the last greetings of her mother, who, as she told, had died before she had left the underworld. At the same time, she also brought the message that Jon had only would survive. that she was sad and not the smallest change was there for him to be noted.

Jon now made firm arrangements for his property, and in his last He put his daughter Sigrid as heir to the court, on the he lived, and it was evident that he loved her most of all children; but she was also an ornament among all women. He gave all the movable property to his wife and her children, and that was a great wealth. Then Jon died, and many mourned his Loss.

A few years later, Sigrid married a capable Manne, and they settled on their farm, which was the best farm in the Sigrid was always considered an excellent woman, and the couple lived in great love for a long time They had a lot of children, and one of them is great family in the south.