DESCRIPTION:
Egil Saga (lyrics)

Hefir hon haft langan vanmátt,
ok pat var krom mikil;
fekk hon enga nótt svefn ok var
sem hamstoli vaeri.

Ristnar hafa verit rúnar, ok er sá einn bóndason
hedan skammt í brott, er pat gerdi,
ok er sidan miklu
verr en adr.

Egil reist rúnar ok lagdi undir hoegendit
Í hvíluna, par er hon hvildi;
henni potti sem hon vaknadi or svefni ok sagdi
at hon var pá heil.

Skalat madr rúnar rista,
nema rada vel kunni,
pat verdr mrgum manni,
es of myrkvan staaf villisk;
sák á telgdu talkni
tiu launstafi ristna,
pat hefr lauka lindi
langs ofrtrega fengit.

Egil reist rúnar ok lagdi undir hoegendit
Í hvíluna, par er hon hvildi;
henni potti sem hon vaknadi or svefni ok sagdi
at hon var pá heil.

Skalat madr rúnar rista,
nema rada vel kunni,
pat verdr mrgum manni,
es of myrkvan staaf villisk;
sák á telgdu talkni
tiu launstafi ristna,
pat hefr lauka lindi
langs ofrtrega fengit.

Egils saga is an Icelandic saga. The oldest transcript (a fragment) dates back to 1240 AD. The saga is centered on the life of Egill Skallagrímsson, an Icelandic farmer, viking and skald. It is generally referred to as Egla by Icelandic scholars.

The saga covers a long period of time, starting in Norway around 850 AD, with the life of Egill's grandfather Úlfr, called Kveldúlfr ("Evening Wolf") and his two sons, Þórólfr and Egill's father Skalla-Grímr. Kveldúlfr is described as bigger and stronger than anyone else gaining much land and property from viking raids.

He was a very wise man, hamrammr (a shape-shifter) in battles and a shy recluse in the evenings. Extreme personal traits like these are seen in his son Skalla-Grímr and his grandson Egill as well. After Þórólfr's death, due to his broken allegiance to King Haraldr (although not Þórólfr's fault), Skalla-Grímr and his father Kveldúlfr flee Norway to settle in Iceland. Skalla-Grímr settles in peace as a farmer and blacksmith at Borg, where his sons Egill and Þórólfr (named after his uncle) grow up.

The story continues with the childhood of Egill, which foreshadows his future rebelliousness. His family's peace is again lost as the social order is threatened by Egill's dangerous attitude. He stirs up trouble with his first murder with an axe at the age of seven. The story goes on to tell the tales of Egill's voyages to Scandinavia and England and his personal vendetta against King Eric Bloodaxe. There are also vivid descriptions of his other fights and friendships, his relationship with his family (highlighted by his jealousy, as well as fondness for his older brother Þórólfr), his old age, and the fate of his own son Þorsteinn (who was baptized once Roman Catholicism came to Iceland) and his children who had many children of their own. The saga ends around the year 1000 AD and spans many generations.