Anonymous - Eirik the Red\'s Saga
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Anonymous >> Eirik the Red\'s Saga
EIRIK THE RED'S SAGA:
A TRANSLATION
READ BEFORE THE
LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
OF LIVERPOOL,
JANUARY 12TH, 1880,
BY
THE REV. J. SEPHTON.
LIVERPOOL:
D. MARPLES & CO., LIMITED, MELVILL CHAMBERS.
1880.
CONTENTS.
1. How Vifil, Gudrid's grandfather, came to Iceland.
2. Of Eirik the Red, and his discovery of Greenland.
3. Gudrid's parentage, and the emigration of her father, Thorbjorn,
and his family to Greenland.
4. Eirik's family, and his son Leif's discovery of Vinland.
5. Gudrid marries Thorstein, son of Eirik the Red. [Sickness and
death of Thorstein.]
6. Gudrid marries Karlsefni.
7. Karlsefni's expedition to Vinland. The first winter is passed at
Straumsfjordr.
8. Fate of Thorhall the Sportsman.
9. The second winter is passed at Hop.
10. Dealings with the Skroelingar.
11. Fight with the Skroelingar.
12. Return to Straumsfjordr.
13. The slaying of Thorvald by a One-footer. The colonists return
to Greenland after passing the third winter at Straumsfjordr.
14. Heroic magnanimity and fate of Bjarni.
15. Gudrid's descendants.
[Olaf, who was called Olaf the White, was styled a warrior king. He
was the son of King Ingjald, the son of Helgi, the son of Olaf, the
son of Gudred, the son of Halfdan Whiteleg, king of the Uplands (in
Norway). He led a harrying expedition of sea-rovers into the west, and
conquered Dublin, in Ireland, and Dublinshire, over which he made
himself king. He married Aud the Deep-minded, daughter of Ketil
Flatnose, son of Bjorn the Ungartered, a noble man from Norway. Their
son was named Thorstein the Red. Olaf fell in battle in Ireland, and
then Aud and Thorstein went into the Sudreyjar (the Hebrides). There
Thorstein married Thorid, daughter of Eyvind the Easterling, sister of
Helgi the Lean; and they had many children. Thorstein became a warrior
king, and formed an alliance with Earl Sigurd the Great, son of
Eystein the Rattler. They conquered Caithness, Sutherland, Ross, and
Moray, and more than half Scotland. Over these Thorstein was king
until the Scots plotted against him, and he fell there in battle. Aud
was in Caithness when she heard of Thorstein's death. Then she caused
a merchant-ship to be secretly built in the wood, and when she was
ready, directed her course out into the Orkneys. There she gave in
marriage Thorstein the Red's daughter, Gro, who became mother of
Grelad, whom Earl Thorfinn, the Skullcleaver, married. Afterwards Aud
set out to seek Iceland, having twenty free men in her ship. Aud came
to Iceland, and passed the first winter in Bjarnarhofn (Bjornshaven)
with her brother Bjorn. Afterwards she occupied all the Dale country
between the Dogurdara (day-meal river) and the Skraumuhlaupsa (river
of the giantess's leap), and dwelt at Hvamm. She had prayer meetings
at Krossholar (Crosshills), where she caused crosses to be erected,
for she was baptised and deeply devoted to the faith. There came with
her to Iceland many men worthy of honour, who had been taken captive
in sea-roving expeditions to the west, and who were called bondmen.
One of these was named Vifil; he was a man of high family, and had
been taken captive beyond the western main, and was also called a
bondman before Aud set him free. And when Aud granted dwellings to her
ship's company, Vifil asked why she gave no abode to him like unto the
others. Aud replied, "That it was of no moment to him, for," she said,
"he would be esteemed in whatever place he was, as one worthy of
honour." She gave him Vifilsdalr (Vifilsdale), and he dwelt there and
married. His sons were Thorbjorn and Thorgeir, promising men, and they
grew up in their father's house.
2. There was a man named Thorvald, the son of Asvald, the son of Ulf,
the son of Yxna-Thoris. His son was named Eirik. Father and son
removed from Jadar (in Norway) to Iceland, because of manslaughters,
and occupied land in Hornstrandir, and dwelt at Drangar. There
Thorvald died, and Eirik then married Thjodhild, daughter of Jorund,
the son of Atli, and of Thorbjorg the Ship-breasted, whom afterwards
Thorbjorn, of the Haukadalr (Hawkdale) family, married; he it was who
dwelt at Eiriksstadr after Eirik removed from the north. It is near
Vatzhorn. Then did Eirik's thralls cause a landslip on the estate of
Valthjof, at Valthjofsstadr. Eyjolf the Foul, his kinsman, slew the
thralls beside Skeidsbrekkur (slopes of the race-course), above
Vatzhorn. In return Eirik slew Eyjolf the Foul; he slew also Hrafn the
Dueller, at Leikskalar (playbooths). Gerstein, and Odd of Jorfi,
kinsman of Eyjolf, were found willing to follow up his death by a
legal prosecution; and then was Eirik banished from Haukadalr. He
occupied then Brokey and Eyxney, and dwelt at Tradir, in Sudrey, the
first winter. At this time did he lend to Thorgest pillars for
seat-stocks, Afterwards Eirik removed into Eyxney, and dwelt at
Eiriksstadr. He then claimed his pillars, and got them not. Then went
Eirik and fetched the pillars from Breidabolstadr, and Thorgest went
after him. They fought at a short distance from the hay-yard at
Drangar, and there fell two sons of Thorgest, and some other men.
After that they both kept a large body of men together. Styr gave
assistance to Eirik, as also did Eyjolf, of Sviney, Thorbjorn
Vifilsson, and the sons of Thorbrand, of Alptafjordr (Swanfirth). But
the sons of Thord Gellir, as also Thorgeir, of Hitardalr (Hotdale),
Aslak, of Langadalr (Longdale), and Illugi, his son, gave assistance
to Thorgest. Eirik and his people were outlawed at Thorsnes Thing. He
prepared a ship in Eiriksvagr (creek), and Eyjolf concealed him in
Dimunarvagr while Thorgest and his people sought him among the
islands. Eirik said to his people that he purposed to seek for the
land which Gunnbjorn, the son of Ulf the Crow, saw when he was driven
westwards over the ocean, and discovered Gunnbjarnarsker (Gunnbjorn's
rock or skerry). He promised that he would return to visit his friends
if he found the land. Thorbjorn, and Eyjolf, and Styr accompanied
Eirik beyond the islands. They separated in the most friendly manner,
Eirik saying that he would be of the like assistance to them, if he
should be able so to be, and they should happen to need him. Then he
sailed oceanwards under Snoefellsjokull (snow mountain glacier), and
arrived at the glacier called Blaserkr (Blue-shirt); thence he
journeyed south to see if there were any inhabitants of the country.
He passed the first winter at Eiriksey, near the middle, of the
Vestribygd (western settlement). The following spring he proceeded to
Eiriksfjordr, and fixed his abode there. During the summer he
proceeded into the unpeopled districts in the west, and was there a
long time, giving names to the places far and wide. The second winter
he passed in Eiriksholmar (isles), off Hvarfsgnupr (peak of
disappearance, Cape Farewell); and the third summer he went altogether
northwards, to Snoefell and into Hrafnsfjordr (Ravensfirth);
considering then that he had come to the head of Eiriksfjordr, he
turned back, and passed the third winter in Eiriksey, before the mouth
of Eiriksfjordr. Now, afterwards, during the summer, he proceeded to
Iceland, and came to Breidafjordr (Broadfirth). This winter he was
with Ingolf, at Holmlatr (Island-litter). During the spring, Thorgest
and he fought, and Eirik met with defeat. After that they were
reconciled. In the summer Eirik went to live in the land which he had
discovered, and which he called Greenland, "Because," said he, "men
will desire much the more to go there if the land has a good name."]
3. Thorgeir Vifilsson married, and took to wife Arnora, daughter of
Einar, from Laugarbrekka (the slope of the hot spring), the son of
Sigmund, the eon of Ketil-Thistil, who had occupied Thistilsfjordr.
The second daughter of Einar was named Hallveig. Thorbjorn Vifilsson
took her to wife, and received with her the land of Laugarbrekka, at
Hellisvollr (the cave-hill). To that spot Thorbjorn removed his abode,
and became great and worshipful. He was the temple-priest, and had a
magnificent estate. Thorbjorn's daughter was Gudrid, the fairest of
women, and of peerless nobility in all her conduct. There was a man
named Orm, who dwelt at Arnarstapi (eagle-rock), and he had a wife who
was named Halldis. He was a well-to-do franklin, a great friend of
Thorbjorn, and Gudrid lived at his house as his foster-child for a
long time. There was a man named Thorgeir, who dwelt at Thorgeirsfjall
(fell). He was mighty rich in cattle, and had been made a freedman. He
had a son, whose name was Einar, a handsome man, well mannered, and a
great dandy. Einar, at this time, was a travelling merchant, sailing
from land to land with great success; and he always passed his winter
either in Iceland or in Norway. Now after this, I have to tell how
that one autumn, when Einar was in Iceland, he proceeded with his
wares along Snoefellsnes, with the object of selling; he came to
Arnarstapi; Orm invited him to stay there, and Einar accepted his
invitation, because there was friendship between him and Orm's people,
and his wares were earned into a certain outhouse. There he unpacked
his merchandise, showed it to Orm and the housemen, and bade Orm take
therefrom such things as he would. Orm accepted the offer, and
pronounced Einar to be a goodly gallant traveller, and a great
favourite of fortune. When now they were busy with the wares, a woman
passed before the door of the outhouse; and Einar inquired of Orm who
that fair woman might be, passing before the door. "I have not seen
her here before," said he. "That is Gudrid, my foster-child," said
Orm, "daughter of Thorbjorn the franklin, from Laugarbrekka." "She
must be a good match," said Einar; "surely she has not been without
suitors who have made proposals for her, has she?" Orm answered,
"Proposals have certainly been made, friend, but this treasure is not
to be had for the picking up; it is found that she will be particular
in her choice, as well as also her father." "Well, in spite of that,"
quoth Einar, "she is the woman whom I have it in my mind to propose
for, and I wish that in this suit of mine you approach her father on
my part, and apply yourself to plead diligently[A] for me, for which
I shall pay you in return a perfect friendship. The franklin,
Thorbjorn, may reflect that our families would be suitably joined in
the bonds of affinity; for he is a man in a position of great honour,
and owns a fine abode, but his personal property, I am told, is
greatly on the decrease; neither I nor my father lack lands or
personal property; and if this alliance should be brought about, the
greatest assistance would accrue to Thorbjorn." Then answered Orm, "Of
a surety I consider myself to be thy friend, and yet am I not willing
to bring forward this suit, for Thorbjorn is of a proud mind, and
withal a very ambitious man." Einar replied that he desired no other
thing than that his offer of marriage should be made known. Orm then
consented to undertake his suit, and Einar journeyed south again until
he came home. A while after, Thorbjorn had a harvest-feast, as he was
bound to have because of his great rank. There were present Orm, from
Arnarstapi, and many other friends of Thorbjorn. Orm entered into
conversation with Thorbjorn, and told him how that Einar had lately
been to see him from Thorgeirsfjall, and was become a promising man.
He now began the wooing on behalf of Einar, and said that an alliance
between the families would be very suitable on account of certain
interests. "There may arise to thee, franklin," he said, "great
assistance in thy means from this alliance." But Thorbjorn answered,
"I did not expect the like proposal from thee, that I should give my
daughter in marriage to the son of a thrall. And so thou perceivest
that my substance is decreasing; well, then, my daughter shall not go
home with thee, since thou considerest her worthy of so poor a match."
Then went Orm home again, and each of the other guests to his own
household, and Gudrid remained with her father, and stayed at home
that winter.
[Footnote A: The word "alendu" is a difficulty. Perhaps we ought to
read "allidnu," or "allidinu."]
Now, in the spring, Thorbjorn made a feast to his friends, and a
goodly banquet was prepared. There came many guests, and the banquet
was of the best. Now, at the banquet, Thorbjorn called for a hearing,
and thus spake:--"Here have I dwelt a long time. I have experienced
the goodwill of men and their affection towards me, and I consider
that our dealings with one another have been mutually agreeable. But
now do my money matters begin to bring me uneasiness, although to this
time my condition has not been reckoned contemptible. I wish,
therefore, to break up my household before I lose my honour; to remove
from the country before I disgrace my family. So now I purpose to look
after the promises of Eirik the Red, my friend, which he made when we
separated at Breidafjordr. I purpose to depart for Greenland in the
summer, if events proceed as I could wish." These tidings about this
design appeared to the guests to be important, for Thorbjorn had long
been beloved by his friends. They felt that he would only have made so
public a declaration that it might be held of no avail to attempt to
dissuade him from his purpose. Thorbjorn distributed gifts among the
guests, and then the feast was brought to an end, and they departed to
their own homesteads. Thorbjorn sold his lands, and bought a ship
which had been laid up on shore at the mouth of the Hraunhofn (harbour
of the lava field). Thirty men ventured on the expedition with him.
There was Orm, from Arnarstapi, and his wife, and those friends of
Thorbjorn who did not wish to be separated from him. Then they
launched the ship, and set sail with a favourable wind. But when they
came out into the open sea the favourable wind ceased, and they
experienced great gales, and made but an ill-sped voyage throughout
the summer. In addition to that trouble, there came fever upon the
expedition, and Orm died, and Halldis, his wife, and half the
company. Then the sea waxed rougher, and they endured much toil and
misery in many ways, and only reached Herjolfsnes, in Greenland, at
the very beginning of winter. There dwelt at Herjolfsnes the man who
was called Thorkell. He was a useful man and most worthy franklin. He
received Thorbjorn and all his ship's company for the winter,
assisting them in right noble fashion. This pleased Thorbjorn well and
his companions in the voyage.
At that time there was a great dearth in Greenland; those who had been
out on fishing expeditions had caught little, and some had not
returned. There was in the settlement the woman whose name was
Thorbjorg. She was a prophetess (spae-queen), and was called
Litilvolva (little sybil). She had had nine sisters, and they were all
spae-queens, and she was the only one now living. It was a custom of
Thorbjorg, in the winter time, to make a circuit, and people invited
her to their houses, especially those who had any curiosity about the
season, or desired to know their fate; and inasmuch as Thorkell was
chief franklin thereabouts, he considered that it concerned him to
know when the scarcity which overhung the settlement should cease. He
invited, therefore, the spae-queen to his house, and prepared for her
a hearty welcome, as was the custom whereever a reception was accorded
a woman of this kind. A high seat was prepared for her, and a cushion
laid thereon in which were poultry-feathers. Now, when she came in the
evening, accompanied by the man who had been sent to meet her, she was
dressed in such wise that she had a blue mantle over her, with strings
for the neck, and it was inlaid with gems quite down to the skirt. On
her neck she had glass beads. On her head she had a black hood of
lambskin, lined with ermine. A staff she had in her hand, with a knob
thereon; it was ornamented with brass, and inlaid with gems round
about the knob. Around her she wore a girdle of soft hair, and therein
was a large skin-bag, in which she kept the talismans needful to her
in her wisdom. She wore hairy calf-skin shoes on her feet, with long
and strong-looking thongs to them, and great knobs of latten at the
ends. On her hands she had gloves of ermine-skin, and they were white
and hairy within. Now, when she entered, all men thought it their
bounden duty to offer her becoming greetings, and these she received
according as the men were agreeable to her. The franklin Thorkell took
the wise-woman by the hand, and led her to the seat prepared for her.
He requested her to cast her eyes over his herd, his household, and
his homestead. She remained silent altogether. During the evening the
tables were set; and now I must tell you what food was made ready for
the spae-queen. There was prepared for her porridge of kid's milk, and
hearts of all kinds of living creatures there found were cooked for
her. She had a brazen spoon, and a knife with a handle of walrus-tusk,
which was mounted with two rings of brass, and the point of it was
broken off. When the tables were removed, the franklin Thorkell
advanced to Thorbjorg and asked her how she liked his homestead, or
the appearance of the men; or how soon she would ascertain that which
he had asked, and which the men desired to know. She replied that she
would not give answer before the morning, after she had slept there
for the night. And when the (next) day was far spent, the preparations
were made for her which she required for the exercise of her
enchantments. She begged them to bring to her those women who were
acquainted with the lore needed for the exercise of the enchantments,
and which is known by the name of Weird-songs, but no such women came
forward. Then was search made throughout the homestead if any woman
were so learned. Then answered Gudrid, "I am not skilled in deep
learning, nor am I a wise-woman, although Halldis, my foster-mother,
taught me, in Iceland, the lore which she called Weird-songs." "Then
art thou wise in good season," answered Thorbjorg; but Gudrid replied,
"That lore and the ceremony are of such a kind, that I purpose to be
of no assistance therein, because I am a Christian woman." Then
answered Thorbjorg, "Thou mightest perchance afford thy help to the
men in this company, and yet be none the worse woman than thou wast
before; but to Thorkell give I charge to provide here the things that
are needful." Thorkell thereupon urged Gudrid to consent, and she
yielded to his wishes. The women formed a ring round about, and
Thorbjorg ascended the scaffold and the seat prepared for her
enchantments. Then sang Gudrid the weird-song in so beautiful and
excellent a manner, that to no one there did it seem that he had ever
before heard the song in voice so beautiful as now. The spae-queen
thanked her for the song. "Many spirits," said she, "have been present
under its charm, and were pleased to listen to the song, who before
would turn away from us, and grant us no such homage. And now are many
things clear to me which before were hidden both from me and others.
And I am able this to say, that the dearth will last no longer--the
season improving as spring advances. The epidemic of fever which has
long oppressed us will disappear quicker than we could have hoped. And
thee, Gudrid, will I recompense straightway, for that aid of thine
which has stood us in good stead; because thy destiny is now clear to
me, and foreseen. Thou shalt make a match here in Greenland, a most
honourable one, though it will not be a long-lived one for thee,
because thy way lies out to Iceland; and there, shall arise from thee
a line of descendants both numerous and goodly, and over the branches
of thy family shall shine a bright ray. And so fare thee now well and
happily, my daughter." Afterwards the men went to the wise-woman, and
each enquired after what he was most curious to know. She was also
liberal of her replies, and what she said proved true. After this came
one from another homestead after her, and she then went there.
Thorbjorn was invited, because he did not wish to remain at home while
such heathen worship was performing. The weather soon improved when
once spring began, as Thorbjorg had said, Thorbjorn made ready his
ship, and went on until he came to Brattahlid (the steep slope). Eirik
received him with the utmost cordiality, saying he had done well to
come there. Thorbjorn and his family were with him during the winter.
And in the following spring Eirik gave to Thorbjorn land at Stokknes,
and handsome farm buildings were there built for him, and he dwelt
there afterwards.
4. Eirik had a wife who was named Thjodhild, and two sons; the one was
named Thorstein, and the other Leif. These sons of Eirik were both
promising men. Thorstein was then at home with his father; and there
was at that time no man in Greenland who was thought so highly of as
he. Leif had sailed to Norway, and was there with King Olaf
Tryggvason. Now, when Leif sailed from Greenland during the summer, he
and his men were driven out of their course to the Sudreyjar. They
were slow in getting a favourable wind from this place, and they
stayed there a long time during the summer ... reaching Norway about
harvest-tide. He joined the body-guard of King Olaf Tryggvason, and
the king formed an excellent opinion of him, and it appeared to him
that Leif was a well-bred man. Once upon a time the king entered into
conversation with Leif, and asked him, "Dost thou purpose sailing to
Greenland in summer?" Leif answered, "I should wish so to do, if it
is your will." The king replied, "I think it may well be so; thou
shalt go my errand, and preach Christianity in Greenland." Leif said
that he was willing to undertake it, but that, for himself, he
considered that message a difficult one to proclaim in Greenland. But
the king said that he knew no man who was better fitted for the work
than he. "And thou shalt carry," said he, "good luck with thee in it."
"That can only be," said Leif, "if I carry yours with me." Leif set
sail as soon as he was ready. He was tossed about a long time out at
sea, and lighted upon lands of which before he had no expectation.
There were fields of wild wheat, and the vine-tree in full growth.
There were also the trees which were called maples; and they gathered
of all this certain tokens; some trunks so large that they were used
in house-building. Leif came upon men who had been shipwrecked, and
took them home with him, and gave them sustenance during the winter.
Thus did he show his great munificence and his graciousness when he
brought Christianity to the land, and saved the shipwrecked crew. He
was called Leif the Lucky. Leif reached land in Eiriksfjordr, and
proceeded home to Brattahlid. The people received him gladly. He soon
after preached Christianity and catholic truth throughout the land,
making known to the people the message of King Olaf Tryggvason; and
declaring how many renowned deeds and what great glory accompanied
this faith. Eirik took coldly to the proposal to forsake his religion,
but his wife, Thjodhild, promptly yielded, and caused a church to be
built not very near the houses. The building was called Thjodhild's
Church; in that spot she offered her prayers, and so did those men who
received Christ, and they were many. After she accepted the faith,
Thjodhild would have no intercourse with Eirik, and this was a great
trial to his temper.
After this there was much talk about making ready to go to the land
which Leif had discovered. Thorstein, Eirik's son, was chief mover in
this, a worthy man, wise and much liked. Eirik was also asked to go,
and they believed that his luck and foresight would be of the highest
use. He was [for a long time against it, but did not say nay], when
his friends exhorted him to go. They made ready the ship which
Thorbjorn had brought there, and there were twenty men who undertook
to start in her. They had little property, but chiefly weapons and
food. On the morning when Eirik left home he took a little box, which
had in it gold and silver; he hid the money, and then went forth on
his journey. He had proceeded, however, but a little way, when he fell
from his horse, and broke his ribs and injured his shoulder, and cried
out, "Aiai!" At this accident he sent word to his wife that she should
take away the money that he had hidden, declaring his misfortune to be
a penalty paid on account of having hid the money. Afterwards they
sailed away out of Eiriksfjordr with gladness, as their plan seemed to
promise success. They were driven about for a long time on the open
sea, and came not into the track which they desired. They came in
sight of Iceland, and also met with birds from the coast of Ireland.
Then was their ship tossed to and fro on the sea. They returned about
harvest-tide, worn out by toil and much exhausted, and reached
Eiriksfjordr at the beginning of winter. Then spake Eirik, "You were
in better spirits in the summer, when you went forth out of the firth,
than you are in now, and yet for all that there is much to be thankful
for." Thorstein replied, "It is a chieftain's duty now to look after
some arrangement for these men who are without shelter, and to find
them food." Eirik answered, "That is an ever-true saying, 'You know
not until you have got your answer.' I will now take thy counsel about
this." All those who had no other abodes were to go with the father
and the son. Then came they to land, and went forth home.