[33]. Negative inheritance.
[34]. Before people in a hall.
[35]. Concubines were both slaves of high birth who were captured in war and women of lower birth, and seem to have often lived in the house. Njal had a concubine whose son by him was killed, and Njal’s wife was anxious to avenge his death. Their status seems to have depended on that of the man with whom they lived.
[36]. Another text states that the women also are punished if they do the opposite.
[37]. This probably means derisive songs.
[38]. In Iceland a high degree of poverty after the marriage was a lawful reason for divorce (Gragas, 40).
[39]. Frostathing Law, xi., xiv.
[40]. According to Borgarthing Law, a wife after waiting three years for the return of her husband could marry again.
[41]. Cf. also Gulathing’s Law, 54.
[42]. There is an example of a man leaving his wife on account of extravagance in the household, and for insulting him in the presence of people (Landnama, ii. 6; Njala, 34).