13th century, Old Norse.
'She who dishes out the ale in the evening would rather that I ate the apples of hell-orchard!'
The saga of the Heath Slayings is a rip-roaring tale in the style of a modern novel. Although written in the thirteenth century and set in tenth century Iceland, motive and action keep the reader fully-engaged and on the edge of the seat and might inspire an essay upon the stupidity of an oversimplified legal system that does nothing to dampen the need to protect honour through revenge. It may also cast further light upon pagan belief in what is almost a throwaway line:
Thorbjorn is arguing with his wife and sings a verse at her:
‘My wife,’ he cries, ‘with no black on her at my funeral, would congratulate herself at the success of her plans! She who dishes out the ale in the evening would rather that I ate the apples of hell-orchard!’
She who filleth the ale round would give for my eating The apples of hell-orchard. Evil unheard of!
Story fragment retold from: The Story of the Heath-Slayings. 1892 translation into English by William Morris and Eiríkr Magnússon from the original Icelandic 'Heiðarvíga saga'. XI. Portents at Walls.
Sagas of Icelanders – Wikipedia
Heiðarvíga saga – Wikipedia
Heiðarvíga saga: The story of the Heath-Slayings – 1892 translation into English by William Morris and Eiríkr Magnússon from the original Icelandic 'Heiðarvíga saga'. sagadb.org