SAGA-BOOK - Viking Society Web Publications

282 Saga-Book of the Viking Society
themselves to God, with others who bear His cross. But little
should be said of this unless mortal danger is evident." "For
mother and child you are to use only prayer and permissible,
natural and Christian measures, but not any that are impious,
superstitious or forbidden, but make it public if anyone uses
such."13
The M argretar saga was doubtless counted among the
superstitious and forbidden measures, but ignorant
ordinary folk were hardly to be blamed if they turned to
the saga in the hope of help for a wife in peril of death on
her childbed when all prayers and natural measures had
failed, and all that was left for her otherwise was to
"commend herself to God, with others who bear His cross".
11 Handb6k presta (1826), 296-301.