Icelandic Magic by Stephen E. Flowers Page B

of the book but gave up on obtaining any more of the rest. Then they wanted to put to rest all those who were still lurching about, and they succeeded with everyone except the old man. They got nowhere at all with him; he was still trying to get back the lost part of his book. But they held their own, though they had their work cut out to do so, and this went on until daybreak. But when the day dawned, the cottager disappeared into his grave, and they chanted ( þuldu) their spells ( fræði ) over it, and the old man was not seen
again. But the three students kept the leaves from his book for their own use,
and based on them they put together the book of magic ( fjölkynngisbók ) named Gray-Skin ( Gráskinna ) and it remained for many years on a table in the Cathedral School at Skálholt; Bogi gained the most from this, for he learned more than the others.
    Later these three students were ordained into the priesthood, and Eiríkur became the priest of Vogsósar in Selvogur . . .
    Although the fellows had kept their learning of magic ( fjölkynngislærdóm ) concealed ( dult ), it was not long before word got around that Eiríkur was a magician ( göldróttur ), so his bishop summoned him and showed him Gray-Skin and ordered him to make a clear statement as to whether he was acquainted with what was in it. Eiríkur flicked the pages and said, “I don’t know a single one of these signs ( staf ) in here,” and this he solemnly swore and then went back home. But afterward he told his friends that he knew all the signs, except just one single one.
    2. How Eiríkur Learned His Arts at School (a variation)
    When Eiríkur was at school at Skálholt, some of the students decided to awaken the ghost of an old man buried in the churchyard there, who had owned a magic book of great power. They raised and eventually confined him, but none of them could get the book out from under his arm until Eiríkur approached him, whereupon the book loosened from his grip at once. Eiríkur read in it until shortly after dawn. Then he shut it and gave it back to its owner, who took it and quickly sank back into his grave. Later the other students asked him what he had read. “Enough,” he said, “to know that if I had read any more I would have lost my soul to the devil.”
    3. Eiríkur’s Pupil and the Book
    Many young schoolboys would go to Eiríkur and ask him to teach them. He tested ( reyndi ) them in various ways and would teach the ones who satisfied him. Among others, there was a boy who requested instruction in magic ( í galdri ). Eiríkur said, “Be here with me until Sunday and then accompany me to Krýsuvíkur; afterward I will tell you whether you are in or out.”
    On Sunday they rode off. But when they got out to the sands, Eiríkur says, “I have forgotten my handbook; it is under my pillow. Go and fetch it, but do not open it.”
    The boy went and fetched the book and rode back out to the sands. Now he felt
a longing to look inside the book, and this he does. A countless host of devils
( púkar ) came toward him, asking, “What has to be done? What has to be done?” He answered quickly, “Make a rope from the sand!” They got to work, but he continued on his way and catches up to the priest out on the lava fields. The priest took the book and said, “You opened it.” This the boy denied. They went on their intended way, but on the return trip the priest saw where the devils ( púkar ) were sitting on the sands.
    Then he said, “I knew you had opened the book, my good fellow, although you denied it; but you came up with the best possible plan, and it would be worthwhile teaching you.”
    And thus it is said that he did teach him.
    4. Raising Ghosts (a variation)
    Once two boys came to Eiríkur the priest and asked him to show them how he went about awakening ghosts ( draugar ). He asked them to