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Likewise did greed bring only ignominy to the person who surrendered to it.
“Gunhild's sons embraced Christianity in England, as told before; but when they came to rule over Norway they made no progress in spreading Christianity -- only they pulled down the temples of the idols, and cast away the sacrifices where they had it in their power, and raised great animosity by doing so. The good crops of the country were soon wasted in their days, because there were many kings, and each had his court about him. They had therefore great expenses, and were very greedy. Besides, they only observed those laws of King Hakon which suited themselves.” (GR, c.2)
“Freyvid took up the word, and spoke. "My brother Thorvid, who is considered to be the wisest of us brothers, holds the words `quarrelsome, greedy, jealous, dull,' to be one and the same thing; for it applies to him who is weary of peace, longs for small things without attaining them, while he lets great and useful things pass away as they came. (OH, c.96)
The praises for moderation were not few in number in the sagas
and eddas.
“Helgi was a tall man, strong and handsome, a cheery self-assertive fellow who
gave no thought to the farm; he was very well skilled in arms. Grim was a tall
man, very strong, reserved and moderate, and a very good farmer. The brothers
exercised themselves in every kind of sport; they excelled all the young men
in the neighbourhood with their exploits so that none could be found to match
them.” (DS, c.2)
“Bard, Hoskuld's son, had also been a seafarer, and was well accounted of wherever
he went, for he was the best of brave men and true, and a man of moderation
in all things.” (Laxdaela Saga, c.25)
“Arnkel was mourned by everyone, for of all men in pagan times he was the most
gifted. He was remarkably shrewd in judgement, good-tempered, kind-hearted,
brave, honest and moderate. He came out on top in every lawsuit, no matter with
whom he had to deal, which explains why people were so envious of him, as is
shown by the way he met his death.” (ES, c.37)
“Leif was a very tall man and vigorous, a man most valiant to see a wise man
and a very moderate man in all regards.” (FB)
“He was rather silent in general, and did not speak much even at Things; but
he was merry in drinking parties. He loved drinking much, and was talkative
enough then; but quite peaceful. He was cheerful in conversation, peacefully
inclined during all his reign, and loving gentleness and moderation in all things.”
(OK, c.1)
Apparent frith amongst a society, however large or small, bespoke
the strength, the bonding, the tight unbreakable unity of structure and sense
amongst all members. When all were well fed, well provisioned and well endowed,
health, strength and frith reigned amongst every class. Need, foremost amongst
those things which disturb the common frith, was, ideally, absent in such circumstance,
and when any irregularity cropped up to disturb this frith, it was obvious,
and immediately taken care to be remedied or removed.
Frith also was exhibited in the quality of remaining cheerful
in the face of all adversity. One could say it is the quality of being able
to laugh in the face of death. To remain frithful in even the most dire of circumstances
was considered to bring a person a good name. Likewise to complain and grumble
was the way of the thrall. It avails no one to worry about the day of their
death, for to those that are certain in their souls of their destinations, life
lived “bravely and gladly”, was best and they sought the finest most fitting
lives, according each to his own nature.
As it says in Havamal:
24. The witless man is awake all night,In the sagas praises for such frithful behavior abound.
Thinking of many things;
Care-worn he is when the morning comes,
And his woe is just as it was. (Havamal 24)
48. The lives of the brave are noble and best,
Sorrows they seldom feed;
But the coward fear of all things feels,
And not gladly the niggard gives. (Havamal 48)
16. The son of a king shall be silent and wise,
And bold in battle as well;
Bravely and gladly a man shall go,
Till the day of his death is come. (Havamal 16)
Also in Fafnismal:
29. “Brave men betterthan cowards be,
When the clash of battle comes;
And better the gladthan the gloomy men
Shall face what before him lies. (Fafnismal 29)
“Then Grid seized Illugi by the hair and bound him to a chair-post, and with her other hand she brought her bright knife down most bitterly and angrily at his head, but Illugi lay quiet and unafraid. Grid then said very wrathfully; 'Listen, evil wretch, why do you think that I would suffer you to seduce my daughter? No,' she said, 'you shall endure death instead.' Illugi said then, 'My heart does not heave at your words, because if I came into your cave, then fate intended it. Yet no man dies more than once, so I am not afraid of your threats.'” (The Saga of Illugi, c. 4)
“'Though now you have had a great loss in your brother, yet 'tis manly to bear up well; man must over live man. Come, what verse are you now repeating? Let me hear.'” (Egils Saga, c.56)
“Later in the summer Grettir the son of Asmund came back to Iceland, landing in the Hvita in Borgarfjord. People about the district went down to the ship and all the news came at once upon Grettir, first that his father was dead, then that his brother was slain, and third that he was declared outlaw throughout the land. Then he spoke this verse:
"All fell at once upon the bard,
exile, father dead and brother.
Oh man of battle! Many an one
who breaks the swords shall smart for this."
It is told that Grettir changed his manner no whit for these tidings, but was just as merry as before. He remained on board his ship for a time because he could not get a horse to suit him.” (GS, c.47)
Fridthjof said the following when his friend said he wished he had remained behind on their voyage in which they had run into a great gale and were near to drowning.
“Said Fridthjof, laughing: You do not speak of your help in lower terms than it deserves, nevertheless you now showed something of the thrall-blood in you, when you were willing to be a table-waiter.” (SFB, c.6)
“So now they fell on Hogni even as Atli urged them, and cut the heart from out of him, but such was the might of his manhood, that he laughed while he abode that torment, and all wondered at his worth, and in perpetual memory is it held so thence.” (VS, c.38)
In the Saga of Olaf Trygvasson's Saga is given an account of the Jomsvikings and their courage and frith. This account is given in more detail in the Saga of the Jomsvikings and is well worth reading, solely for the description of what the following quote describes.
“Earl Eirik then laid himself alongside of Vagn's ship, and there was a brave defense; but at last this ship too was cleared, and Vagn and thirty men were taken prisoners, and bound, and brought to land. Then came up Thorkel Leira, and said, "Thou madest a solemn vow, Vagn, to kill me, but now it seems more likely that I will kill thee." Vagn and his men sat all upon a log of wood together. Thorkel had an axe in his hands, with which he cut at him who sat outmost on the log. Vagn and the other prisoners were bound so that a rope was fastened on their feet, but they had their hands free. One of them said, "I will stick this cloak-pin that I have in my hand into the earth, if it be so that I know anything, after my head is cut off." His head was cut off, but the cloak-pin fell from his hand. There sat also a very handsome man with long hair, who twisted his hair over his head, put out his neck, and said, "Don't make my hair bloody." A man took the hair in his hands and held it fast. Thorkel hewed with his axe; but the viking twitched his head so strongly that he who was holding his hair fell forwards, and the axe cut off both his hands, and stuck fast in the earth. Then Earl Eirik came up, and asked, 'Who is that handsome man?'” (OT, c.46)
“Haldor Snorrason and Ulf Uspakson, as before related, came to Norway with King Harald. They were, in many respects, of different dispositions. Haldor was very stout and strong, and remarkably handsome in appearance. King Harald gave him this testimony, that he, among all his men, cared least about doubtful circumstances, whether they betokened danger or pleasure; for, whatever turned up, he was never in higher nor in lower spirits, never slept less nor more on account of them, nor ate or drank but according to his custom. Haldor was not a man of many words, but short in conversation, told his opinion bluntly and was obstinate and hard; and this could not please the king, who had many clever people about him zealous in his service. Haldor remained a short time with the king; and then came to Iceland, where he took up his abode in Hjardarholt, and dwelt in that farm to a very advanced age.” (SHH, c.37)
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