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.
Eirik the Red's Saga
by Anonymous
Chapter 3 <<< Contents >>> Chapter 5
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