Custom and Belief in Icelandic Sagas. 423
II. Influence on desires or fate.
1. {EgiVs Saga, 934.) Gunnhild had spells performed,
that Egil should never rest quiet in Iceland till she should see him.
2. {Kormak's Saga, 957.) Kormak stopped desiring the
match, because Thorveig wrought a spell. (The sequel is given in a later quotation from the saga, under the fourth section.)
3. {Gisla Saga, 964.) Bork gave Thorgrim Nef an ox
nine years old to make spells, that Thorgrim's slayer might not remain hidden.
4. ( Waterdale Saga, 975.) Thordi's the prophetess bade
Thorkell go in her black coat, and strike Gudmund three times on the left cheek with her staff, to make him lose his memory ; and later, three times on the right to bring memory back.
III. Blunting Swords.
1. {Thorskfir^inga, 930.) Askmat5r blew on the edges
of Mar's sword, that it should not bite.
2. (/(^.) Kerling looked at the sky between her feet,
that Thori's weapons might not bite.
3. ( Waterdale Saga, 936.) Thorgrim Skinnhufa used
to blunt swords.
4. {Fljotsdcela Saga, 998.) Gauss knew how to blunt
swords.
IV. Protection against wounds.
In Kormak's Saga, between 930 and 965, there are several examples of charms wrought for this purpose :
1. Helga's fostermother touched men before they went
to battle ; she did so to Ogmund, and he said he felt no great wound ; the sword did not bite him.
2. Thorveig gave Bersi a small iron-rimmed shield to
make him wound-proof.
