Now of Eric Brighteyes, of Gudruda the Fair and of Swanhild the
Fatherless, there is a tale to tell. 

These two fair women saw the light in the self-same hour.  But Eric
Brighteyes was their elder by five years.  The father of Eric was
Thorgrimur Iron-Toe.  He had been a mighty man; but in fighting with a
Baresark,[*] who fell upon him as he came up from sowing his wheat,
his foot was hewn from him, so that afterwards he went upon a wooden
leg shod with iron.  Still, he slew the Baresark, standing on one leg
and leaning against a rock, and for that deed people honoured him
much.  Thorgrimur was a wealthy yeoman, slow to wrath, just, and rich
in friends.  Somewhat late in life he took to wife Saevuna, Thorod's
daughter.  She was the best of women, strong in mind and second-
sighted, and she could cover herself in her hair.  But these two never
loved each other overmuch, and they had but one child, Eric, who was
born when Saevuna was well on in years. 

[*] The Baresarks were men on whom a passing fury of battle came; they
were usually outlawed.